So, here it is, the British MotoGP round at the new and improved Silverstone. Up to this year, the British MotoGP has been held at Iron Maiden's old stomping grounds, Donington Park. The last time Silverstone hosted MotoGP was in the mid-80's, or a time most of the MotoGP riders refer to as the 'womb years'.
Champion leader, Lorenzo, helped himself to pole position. DePuniet (who did a trackday with the Silverstone locals a week or so before the race...cheater) sat in 2nd, followed by Pedrosa in 3rd. The second row consisted of one-part Dovizioso, one-part Hayden, and one-part Stoner. Spies sat 7th and Edwards sat somewhere between Spies and last on the grid...again.
Moving right along...Lights out, and everyone (except Stoner) piled in to turn 1. Except Stoner, you ask? It seems Stoner left his carbon fiber-handled parking brake on and slow-balled into the first corner in last place from a 6th place start...Oops. Meanwhile, Lorenzo hits the front followed by Pedro. Pedro made a few half-assed attempts at getting into the lead before Lorenzo kicked him to the curb, gapped the field, and scurried off to win another race by a country Kilometer. JLo's victory celebration was some sort of Spanish-to-English- then-back-to-Spanish Google-Translated version of Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. It worked, I guess.
Meanwhile, back in the pack...things were getting kind of hectic in the fight for the first and second loser spots on the box. Track day cheater, De Puniet, was looking quick in 3rd and soon put his Bunny Bike past Pedro and up into the provisional first loser spot. Dovizioso now sat quietly in 3rd and quickly closed down the track day cheater. While this was-a-happenin', Pedro was dropping off the pace and soon fucked up and got taken by Hayden for 4th. Pedro continued to drop off and soon had Marco Simoncelli 'piling pressure on his rear'. A few laps later, Pedro finally got a little sore and let Simoncelli through into 5th. Ben Pies then started to apply his own Texas-style pressure on Pedro and went up the inside of him in one of the tight sections (of the track). Later in that lap, Spies tee'd up Simoncelli and went past him on the brakes into turn 1. Dovi finally closed down De Puniet and went past him on the front straight to take 2nd.
10 to go, and Hayden managed to close down the front group and looked to be in the hunt for his first podium of 2010. De Puniet roasted the tires on the Bunny Bike, and both Hayden and Spies went past him to take over 3rd and 4th, respectively. 6 to go, and Capirossi followed Melandri's first lap example, and put on his own scratch-and-dent sale in turn 1...'For sale: lightly scuffed aquamarine-colored front fender. Fits 2008-2010 Suzuki GSVR's. Serious buyers only.'
The American Inquisition...3 to go, and Hayden was sitting in 3rd with Spies closing him down. Hayden split his time between chasing Dovi for 2nd and holding off Spies...it was good to see Hayden back to his 'sideways' shenanigans. Last lap, and Dovi sat in a fairly safe 2nd which left Hayden and Spies in a cage match for the final podium spot. At the end of the back straight, Spies looked to be going past Hayden on the inside/brakes, but Hayden squashed that move, and re-outbraked Spies around the outside to maintain 3rd. Spies then lined up Hayden for another move, but Hayden saved Spies the effort by running wide and letting him through, easy-boat style. Spies the rode the shit out of the last half o' lap in super-defensive mode, and just held off Hayden for his debut MotoGP podium. Golf claps, all around for the Texan.
Result:
1) Lorenzo/Fiat Yamaha
2) Dovizioso/Repsol Honda
3) Spies/Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
4) Hayden/Marlboro Ducati
5) Stoner/Marlboro Ducati
6) De Puniet/Playboy LCR Honda
7) Simoncelli/San Carlo Gresini Honda
8) Pedrosa/Repsol Honda
9) Edwards/Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
10)Espagaro/Pramac Ducati
11)Barbera/Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati
12)Bautista/Rizla Suzuki
13)Kallio/Pramac Ducati
No Result:
Capirossi/Rizla Suzuki
Melandri/San Carlo Gresini Honda
Top 10 Points After Round 5
1) Lorenzo/115
2) Dovizioso/78
3) Pedrosa/73
4) Rossi/61
5) Hayden/52
6) De Puniet/46
7) Spies/36
8) Stoner/35
9) Melandri/32
10)Simoncelli/32
So, with Rossi out for a few more months, the title is pretty much Lorenzo's to lose. The big to-do will be who will take 2nd and 3rd at the end of the season.
The next round is this weekend at Assen, a track at which Hayden has won and podiumed over the years. Spies is also familiar with Assen from his time in World Superbike, last year...meaning he won't have to spend the first practice session fucking around trying to figure out which way the track goes and whatnot. Methinks Hayden and/or Spies will be on the box this time around...care to wager? Don't forget, the race is on SATURDAY on SpeedTV @ 8:30am CST. I guess I'll have to DVR my cartoons.
T...out
*Photos from superbikeplanet.com, motogp.com, and mcnews.com.au
