Last time out, at Portugal, Lorenzo cut Rossi's championship lead to just 18 points courtesy of a win and the fact the Rossi rode a 'crap' race, where he finished in a lowly 4th place. I can think of more than a few riders on the MotoGP grid who would gladly shoot a puppy if they were told they would be gifted a 4th plave race result in exchange.
During qualifying, Stoner did what he normally does...goes out and sets the fastest lap, and then hibernates in his pit box with his hot wife and waits for someone else to come close to his time. In this case, it was Rossi that managed to set the new fast lap. Stoner got back out there and vaporized Rossi's lap time, while Melandri vaporized a Seagull. So, the front row was Stoner, Rossi, and Pedrosa. Lorenzo started off of the front row for the first time this year in 4th. Number 5, Colin Edwards, started from 5th. Guess where he finished...again. Homeboy Haystack started from a decent 7th. So that's that...moving on.
The riders grid up, the locals stop drinking, fighting, and beating their wives, and it's game on. Pedrosa gets his usual 'fat bike with a little guy' start, and hits the front. Hayden had gotten a decent start, and looked to be up to 4th, until Lorenzo (who got a shit start) butt-packed him going into turn 1. Hayden managed to keep it upright...over the gravel and through he grass, it's the back of the pack he went. Hayden rejoined the race in 15th (last) about 1/2 an hour behind everyone else. Lorenzo managed to destroy his front brakes when he hit Hayden, and had no choice but to pile off into gravel. Game over.
A few corners later, made an inside move on Pedrosa, but run ran wide. Fail. Pedrosa still at the front. Rossi was sitting right on Stoner's ass in 3rd and looking to get up into the lead. The next lap, Stoner took Pedro on the brakes for the lead. Rossi, doing his best Stoner impression, also went by Pedro on the brakes at the Honda hairpin and up to 2nd place.
From here on out, it was pretty much Stoner and Rossi. Pedrosa did try to fight back against Rossi at the end of the front straight, but that was pretty much pointless. Stoner took off at the front for a few laps, but Rossi managed to keep him in check. From there it was a matter of Stoner playing puppet master to Rossi as he managed the gap and kept Rossi just far enough back to not be a threat. Witnessing Stoner lighting up his rear tire into turn 3 was absolutely bananas. Stoner fired it home for a win at his home GP. With Lorenzo's oopsie, Rossi bagged a 38 point championship lead with two races to go. Rad.
Race Result:
1) Stoner-Marlboro Ducati
2) Rossi-Fiat Yamacka
3) Pedrosa-Repsol Honda
4) DeAngelis-San Carlo Honda
5) Take a guess-duh
6) Dovizioso-Repsol Honda
7) Melandri-Hayate
8) DePuniet-Playboy Honda
9) Kallio-Pramac Ducati
10) Elias-San CarloHonda
11) Vermeulen-Rizla Suzuki
12) Capirossi-Rizla Suzuki
13) Talmacsi-Scot Honda
14) Toseland-Tech 3Yamaha
15) Hayden-Marlboro Ducati
No can do: Lorenzo and a Seagull.
Next weekend it's Malaysia, where Rossi could wrap up the title.
T...out.
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