World Superbike Phillip Island

Finally...some fucking racing! The 2010 World Superbike series kicked off from the ever-rad Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Much to the relief of the rest of the paddock, 2009 champeen and series dismantler, Ben Spies, is off to MotoGP to team up with Colin Edwards in the Yamaha Tex-3 team. With Spies out of the picture, will this finally be Nori Haga's year to bag the championship, or will he be denied for the 67th time?

2009 World Supersport champ, Cal Crutchlow has teamed up with MotoGP refugee/piano tuner James Toseland in the Factory Yamaha team. Both of them seem to think they have what it takes. 2009 British Superbike champ, Leon Camier has teamed up with Max Biaggi on the factory Aprilia team. Bitchin'. Personally, I think Biaggi has the best chance of denying Haga. The other MotoGP refugee, Chris Vermeulen, will be aboard the Factory Kawasaki ZX10R this year. With Kawasaki saying 'fuck you' to MotoGP and the AMA series, they are putting all their sushi in their World Superbike effort. We shall see. Our very own Porkchop Hayden has also given the AMA the finger and signed on to ride a satellite ZX10R for the Pedercini Kawasaki team. Apparently, the prospect of running around at the back of the World Superbike field is more enticing than winning supersport races in the AMA. Good luck, Rog.

Anyway...qualifying came and went, and Alstare Suzuki's new signing, Leon Haslam put his (it's not really 'his', he just gets paid a shitload of money to ride it.)GSXR1000 on pole. Fabrizio, Crutchlow, and Checa rounded out the front row. Where's Haga? He started from 10th. What about our old buddy, Xaus? He qualified 15th, but didn't race due to him destroying 3 bikes during qualifying. Bummer dude...see you in Portugal. And Porkchop? He qualified in last-teenth place, which is also where he finished both races. I'm looking at you, Vermeulen.

OK...enough babbling. The lights went out for Race 1, and Fabrizio immediately hit the front, but Haslam went around the outside of him into the really fucking fast turn 1 to take the lead. Balls. Haga hit the nitro button (see what I did there?) and blasted up to 3rd from 10th on the grid. At the end of the first lap, Haslam had stretched out a decent lead over the factory Ducati boys. Everything pretty much stayed the same, until Toseland hit a wrong note and highsided himself into space over the top of Lukey Heights. Jorge Lorenzo would’ve been impressed. A few laps later, Toseland’s fellow MotoGP refugee, Vermuelen, tossed his Kawasaki into the gravel. Welcome back to World Supers, you two. Crutchlow then decided to follow teammate Toseland’s example and and lost the front into one of those tight, hairpin corner thingies. Dear Mr. Spies; Please come back. Love; The Yamaha World Superbike mechanics.

The front group of Haslam, Febreze, and Haga continued to put a huge gap on the rest of the field. It looked like Haslam was on his way to his first-ever World Superbike win. Into the last lap, Febreze closed up on Haslam and was looking for the win. As they crossed the line, Fabrizio was originally credited with the win. It was then declared a photo finish, so race control reviewed the finish, flipped a coin, and awarded Haslam the win by 4/1000 of second. Haga cruised home in a safe 3rd.

On to race 2. Febreze got the holeshot, but Haslam, once again, went right around the outside to take the lead into turn 1. Balls pt. deux. The front three were the same as race 1, for now. Meanwhile, Alstare Suzuki’s other new boy, Sylvain Guintoli, was picking people and joined the back of the front three and then took Haga and Febreze in the span of two corners to take over 2nd place behind Haslam. The next lap, Guintoli upped the ante and went past Haslam to take the lead in to turn one. Meanwhile, back in the pack…Vermeulen, not happy with his dainty race 1 tipover, decided he wanted to make this one count and fired his Kawasaki (and himself) into the tire wall at 100+ mph. He was stretchered off to the medical center, but should be back for Portugal.

Back up front, Guintoli held the lead for a few laps before being taken by Haslam and Febreze. While this was going on, Checa was rapidly moving through the field and soon threatened the front two. Checa made his way up to 2nd and, with one lap to go, was right on Haslam’s arse. Game on. Checa lined up Haslam around the outside of Lukey Heights and stuffed into the next hairpin and held on for the win. Nice work, amigo.

Race 1

Haslam-Suzuki

Fabrizio-Ducati

Haga-Ducati

Race 2

Checa-Ducati

Haslam-Suzuki

Fabrizio-Ducati

So, that's that. Round one is in the books, and Haslam leaves the island with a 9 point championship lead over Fabrizio. Checa sits in 3rd and Haga in 4th. The next stop is Portugal in a month.

T...out.

Chick on Chick Action

TurkeyDay2K9

Bloody Mary in hand, corned beef in the crock, and DVR in full effect. Word.

Cool black and white photos from www.superbikeplanet.com.

1098R

Pedrosa

The Family Mladin

Nicky Hayden

Um...yeah

MotoGP Valencia

Valencia...MotoGP's yearly 'last chance for romance'. The championship is done and dusted, with Rossi wrapping up his 9th world title last time out at Malaysia. Lorenzo still has a drunk frat boy in Tijuana's chance of maintaining 2nd in the championship over K.C. Stoner and his hot wife.

Regardless of what everyone else does (or doesn't) Pedrosa is going to end his season 3rd in the champeenship. Number 5, Colin the Edwards, who is starting from 5th, is looking to secure 5th overall over Repsol Honda's Dovizioso. 2009 World Superbike series dismantler, Ben's Pies, is making a wildcard appearance this weekend on a 5th Yamaha M1. Spies is using this race to gain additional seat time on the Yamaha before slotting into the Monster Energy Tex-3 team fulltime for 2010.

So then, we have Stoner on pole, followed by Pedrosa and Lorenzo. Rossi, Edwards, and Hayden sat their asses on the second row, in that order. Pies did good to qualify in 9th. Rad.

Alrighty then, the bikes are fired up, the umbrella talent scurry back to pit row, and the riders set off on their warm up lap. As usual, Stoner waves everyone by so that he can be the last to arrive back on the grid and smugly needle his way through the other riders and up to his spot at the front of the grid. Not this time...Stoner managed to highside his Ducati while waiving at the crowd, and found himself out of the race before it even began. Everyone else survives the warm up lap, and it's away we go. Pedrosa gets his usual excellent start, goes directly to the front, and trots off to win the race by a day or two...no more bandwidth will be wasted on him.

Toni Elias also managed a good start and slotted in to 2nd place (for now). Lorenzo and Rossi sat in 3rd and 4th, respectively. Edwards took his usual spot in Edwardth. Hayden sat in 7th and Pies back in 11th. A few laps later, Lorenzo went past Elias into the final corner to take over 2nd. Rossi wasted no time and destroyed Elias on the brakes at the very next corner to take 3rd. A few corners later, Lorenzo shit his leathers as he almost tossed his Yamaha into the weeds coming out of turn 11. Rossi took advantage of this and blew past Lorenzo and up to 2nd. Rossi wasn't able to reel in Pedro and had to settle for a 2nd place finish. JLo sorta kinda reeled in Rossi, but wasn't able to seal the deal...3rd place finish for him.

Meanwhile, back in the pack...Homeboy Haystack was looking strong and was making his way forward. He sat behind DePuniet for a few laps before completely stuffing him up the inside to take over 6th. Pies was back in 10th, but was tagged right on the back of Dovi, DeAngelis, Melandri, and Kallio. Before the race, Pies admitted that the first few laps would be difficult as he wasn't really comfortable on his Yamaha and the limits it offered over his World Superbike machine...he was basically using the first half of the race as another test session. Well...that test paid off. The Ben began to pick off the MotoGP regulars in front of him one at a time. The pinnacle of this little sorte' came when Pies stuffed Repsol Honda's Dovizioso on the brakes and took over 7th. Pies' demoting of Dovi also guaranteed Edwards of a 5th (imagine that) finish in the final 2009 championship standings. After the race, ran over to Pies' pit box and rewarded him with a uniquely Texan hug/hump. Tex-Trois in full effect, boyeee.

As Fletch would say; 'There ya' have it'. Pedroda cruised home for the win, followed by Rossi, Lorenzo, Edwards, and Hayden. Pies bagged himself a 7th place finish...not too shabby, considering he's had about 3 hours on the bike.

Result;

1 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Honda

2 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Yamaha

3 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Yamaha

4 Colin Edwards II Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha

5 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Ducati

6 Tony Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda

7 Ben Spies Yamaha

8 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Honda

9 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Ducati

10 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda

11 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda Honda

12 James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha

13 Aleix Espargaro Ducati

14 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki Suzuki

15 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki Suzuki

16 Gabor Talmacsi Honda

17 Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Kawasaki

That's a wrap. The 2009 racing season is done and dusted. This race reporting is a tough racket. It's time to turn my expense reports in to Jeff and then set off to Puerto Penasco, Mexico

T...out

Worldsuperbike - Port of Mayo

As you know...American Ben's Pies needed to win both races at this year's final outing to take the World Superbike title in his rookie season. If Spies were to win both races, he would arrive at the end of the season equal on points with current points leader, Nori Haga, but would take the title due to having (way) more race wins. There are several more race finish/points scenarios that would work in Spies' favor, but I was told there'd be no math.

Race 1...Starting from his 11th pole of the year, Spies got a good start, and took all the pretenders around the outside for the lead into turn 1. Biaggi and his Aprilia managed to tuck in behind Spies in 2nd, followed by Shakey Byrne in 3rd. Donde esta senior Haga? Up to 7th from his 10th place start. Spies set the outright lap record on his first flying lap...guess who won the race? Spies and Biaggi put a decent gap on everyone else until the 6th lap, when it happened...Haga tossed it away as he lost the front into the hairpin.

Haga wasn't able to get back on track, which gifted Spies (yeah, he won the race) a 15 point championship lead going into the final race of the year. A few lap later, Honda's Johnny Rea made made his way up into 2nd. Spies crossed the line in 1st, with Rea in 2nd, and Biaggi holding of Byrne for the final spot ont he podium (that'd be 3rd)

Race 2...Despite Haga's race 1 tip over, If Haga managed to win race 2, Spies still needed, roughly, a 6th place finish to nab the title in his rookie season. Lights out, and FastBikes video star, Shane Byrne, gets the whore-shot on his private Duck, with Spies in 2nd. Meanwhile, Haga skipped the extra helping of Sushi over the lunch break, and bolted up to 5th from the grid. At the end of the next lap, Rea took 'The Ben' at the end of the front straight for 2nd. Methinks that Spies did his pre-race math, and was completely aware of who needed to be where so that he could wrap up the title...in addition, Rea ranks equal to Fabrizio in the 'Bonzai' department, so he was happy to usher him through. Safety first.

Much to the distaste of the Ducati bosses, Fabrizio made his way past Haga (he'll be sleeping with the fishes) and Rea too take the lead. Fabreze held on for the win with haga right behind him in 2nd. Rea took 3rd with Byrne in 4th. Spies played it safe and kroozed home in xtreme style in 5th to wrap up his, and Yamaha's', inaugural World SuperBike title. Word.

Final Rider's Standings;

1) Ben Spies - Yamaha - 462

2) Noriyuki Haga - Ducati - 456

3) Michel Fabrizio - Ducati - 382

4) Max Biaggi - Aprilia - 319

5) Johnny Rea - Honda - 315

There ya go...game, set, match. Spies, and his title, are off to the Yamaha Tex-Trois MotoGP team to bang-up with Edwards next season. Spies will even be 'wildcarding' during the final race of the 2009 MotoGP season on the Yamaha MotoGP bike at Valencia next week. Next season, current MotoGP flunkout, James Toseland, will take The Ben's spot on the factory R-Series Yamaha alongside 2009 World Supersport champeem, Cal Crutchlow in next year's Yamaha WorldSuperbike effort.

Buy me a shot.

T...out.

!!!SUNDAY!!!

Epic racing tomorrow with both the MotoGP and World Superbike titles up for grabs.

In MotoGP, Champeenship leader Rossi will start the MotoGP of Malaria from pole position. The only dude who still has a shot at the title, Lorenzo, will start the race from second. With a 38 point gap between these two, Rossi only needs a 4th place finish to wrap up his umpteenth world title with one race to go. Homeboy Haybale put in a decent qualifying effort, and will start at the top of the 3rd row in 7th. Colin the Texan will start four places back from his usual spot in 9th.

On the World BetterRacing front...At Portimao, Yamaha R-series pilot, Ben Spies, will start the final two races of the year from pole...his 11th this year. One Mr. Noriyuki Haga goes into this final round with a 10 point championship lead, but will be starting from a not-so-hot 10th place on the grid. If "The Ben" manages to win both races, and Haga finishes 2nd in both, they will be tied on points, but Spies will take the title onnacounta he has a truckload more wins than Haga this season. Either way, Spies is off to MotoGP next year to pardner up with Colin the Edwards at Tex-Trois Yamaha.

If Haga doesn't seal the deal this year, there's always next year as he has re-signed with Xerox Ducati for 2010. Also...in in an effort to give Spies as much MotoGP seat time as possible, Yamama will be supplying an additional bike for the final MotoGP round at Valencia this year for Spies to run as a wildcard. Will he beat Toseland? The fortune cookie that came with my shlimp flied lice says 'yes'.

My plan is to get an early drunk-on, and be home by 1a.m. to watch the MotoGP race live online...you should do the same. After that, I'll sleep off the booze, then throw a corned beef in the crock pot and catch the World Superbike races on SpudTV.

Sunday races on SPEEDTV:

WSBK Race 1 @ 2p.m. CST

WSBK Race 2 @ 3p.m. CST

MotoGP 250 @ 4p.m. CST

MotoGP @ 5p.m. CST

T...out

MotoGP Phillip Island - Oi!

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.

MotoGP Estoril...Rocket Man

MotoGP at Estoril in Portugal...no one's home race. Valentino Rossi came into this round with a 30 point championship lead over teammate Jorge Lorenzo. Casey Stoner came into this round fresh off a self-induced 3 race absence that he spent back in the land down under being treated for a brutal case of Kangaroo Flu. Many wondered if Stoner would even show up at all. Well...he showed up, told Schwantz to shut the fuck up, and qualified in 3rd. Not bad for being off the bike for 9 weeks. JLo and Rossi started from Pole and 2nd respectively. What about the 'mericans? Edwards started from Edwardth and Hayden from 9th. So there.

This is also 'contract time', when under performing and sponsorship-challenged riders get canned to make way for new blood. Rossi and Lorenzo will be back next year with Fiat Yamaha. Rumor is that Rossi may jump ship to Ducati at the end of 2010. World Superbike hotshot Ben Spies will be pardner'd up with Edwards at Tex 3 Yamaha...Toseland got shuffled back to World Superbike to ride a factory Yamaha R1 and play a Yamaha piano in his gay cover band. Vermeulen is also heading off to World Superbike, where he will ride for the 'factory' Kawasaki team, while 250cc maniac, Alvaro Bautista, will step up to take his seat on the Suzuki MotoGP bike along side Capirossi. Stoner and Hayden at Ducati. Dovi and Pedrosa at Repsol Honda. Melandri and Simoncelli at Gresini Honda. Elias looks to be off to Moto2, and DeAngelis to a disco.

>

Back to the race...Lights out and Pedrosa, who is made of styrofoam, went straight to the front of the pack. Pedro's lead lasted roughly 4 corners, until he ran wide and let Lorenzo and his fucking sweet Neil Armstrong tribute helmet up into the lead. From there, JLo pretty much scurried off to a lonely 4th win of the season by a gap of over 7 seconds. Meanwhile, Rossi sat in 3rd with Stoner right on his ass. 2 corners into the 2nd lap, Stoner took Rossi for 2nd courtesy of a rather ballsy inside move and quickly closed down on Pedrosa in 2nd. As for Rossi, that was as good as it was going to get. That's right, the world champ finished in 4th...this was also the first time he has ever finished off the podium at Estoril. Gutted.

26 laps to go, and Stoner smokes Pedro on the brakes at the end of the front straight to take over 2nd...but not before grinding his right footpeg on the previous corner. Nine weeks off the bike? Yeah, right.

With JLo long gone, the top four places were pretty much done and dusted. What else was going on, you ask? Well, not a whole hell of a lot. Homeboy Hayden had gotten a decent start, but was starting to go backwards and ended the day in 9th. Edwards finished where he started...in 5th. Elias was in true 'contract time' mode and finished 6th from his 13th place start...ape style.

Yep...Lorenzo's win cut Rossi's lead in the champeenship from 30 to 18 points with three races to go. Even though he missed three races, Stoner was only 3 points off of Pedrosa in 3rd. After another one of his epic celebration wheelies, Lorenzo pulled to the side of the track, grabbed a 'Lorenzoland' flag, and did a slow motion space walk into the gravel to plant the flag...excellent. Not only is JLo challenging Rossi for the title, but also in the post race celebration department.

Race Result:

1) Lorenzo-Yamaha

2) Stoner-Ducati

3) Pedrosa-Honda

4) Rossi-Yamaha

5) Edwards-Yamaha

6) Elias-Honda

7) Dovizioso-Honda

8) Hayden-Ducati

9) Toseland-Yamaha

10) Vermeulen-Suzuki

11) DePuniet-Honda

12) Melandri-Hayate

13) Canepa-Ducati

14) Talmacsi

DNF:

Capirossi-Suzuki

Kallio-Ducati

DeAngelis-Honda

Next stop: Phillip Island

T...out

Moto GP Misano - When Donkeys Fly

Last time out at Indianapolis, Rossi saw his 50 point championship lead axed in half courtesy of his turn 2 crash and Lorenzo's win. Rossi later stated that while he was sliding ass-over-tit across the the Indy tarmac, he managed to form a solitary thought..."I am a donkey".

Fast forward to Misano...Rossi's 'home' track. Rossi, in his usual "no shame in my game" style, was sporting the Shrek donkey on his helmet...excellent!. Rossi and his donkey were fastest in every session and took pole position followed by Pedrosa and Indy race winner Lorenzo. Along with Rossi, this was also the 'home' race for Ducati, as their workshop is just a hop, skip, and a jump (over a puddle of spilt olive oil) down the road. With Stoner still on 'hiatus', the Ducatisti (Ducati nerds who have, or wish they had, a 916 with zero miles parked in their living room as a conversation piece) put their hopes on Nicky Hayden and his 6th position on the grid.

Alrighty then...game on. Lights out, and Pedrosa immediately hits the front. Two corners later the basic technique of braking is all but forgotten by DeAngelis as he torpedoes Edwards, who in turn takes out Hayden. Even before the dust had settled, Hayden is on his feet and charging DeAngelis. I smell a hate crime coming on. I found a brilliant fan video of the whole incident on that one video site, but won't post it here...F-bombs galore!

Actual quotes from their post race interviews:

Hayden; "...out of the corner of my eye I seen DeAngelis...I seen this fruity...ya' know...that rainbow helmet and I knew that wasn't gonna work."

Edwards; "We're in Italy, so there's always gotta be some dumbass Italian being a hero."

Back to the action...Pedrosa continued on at the front followed closely by Contract Time. While this was going on, Lorenzo (who almost got taken out by DeAngelis' turn 2 bowling party) stuffed Rossi and took over 3rd. A few laps later, Rossi returned the favor on Lorenzo and took off for Contract Time and Pedro. Rossi and Lorenzo then tag-teamed Contract Time and shuffled his ass back to 4th and one step closer to collecting unemployment benefits. To be fair, I think Elias and his 'Planet of the Apes' riding style totally belong in MotoGP...one of my faves, for surely.

Meanwhile, back in the race...Pedrosa was still at the front, but that wouldn't last. 21 laps to go, and Pedrosa had a little whoopsie which allowed the Donkey through to hightail it on to his sixth win of the season. Point:Rossi. With Rossi gone in the distance, Lorenzo and Pedro had their own little scrap going for second. 15 to go, and little Pedro had another little whoopsie, which let his BFF Lorenzo through and up into 2nd. Lorenzo didn't take off right away. Instead, he hung around and toyed with Pedrosa for a bit before getting bored with that and taking off to do another epic celebration wheelie across the line for 2nd. Pedro pooped it home in a safe 3rd, followed by everyone else minus the Grupo de Gravel.

Race Result: 1)Rossi 2)Lorenzo 3)Pedrosa 4)Dovizioso 5)Capirossi 6)Elias 7)Kallio 8)Melandri 9)Vermeulen 10)Toseland 11)Espargaro 12)DePuniet
13)Canepa 14)Talmacsi

Grupo de Gravel: Hayden/Edwards/DeAngelis

With 4 races to go, Rossi now holds a not-so-safe 30 point lead over Lorenzo. Next stop is Portugal, where Stoner is rumored to be making his return. Will he actually show?

(Pictures courtesy of www.superbikeplanet.com and www.motogp.com)

Indianapolis MotoGP

Stateside again...this time at the overrated Indianapolis Motorspeedway...The Brickyard! Who's going to kiss the bricks this year? I've always wondered...when a rider crosses the 'yard of bricks', does it make a 'fart' sound similar to those rumble-bumps that lead up to stop signs on rural highways?. Grab yourself a porkchop on a stick and let's find out!

The organizers do an excellent job of organizing and promoting the race, but the track itself is a bit rinky dink...it is basically comprised of one part aircraft carrier and two parts parking lot cone zone...sprinkle in a variety of surfaces for good measure and even better crashes.

Last years' event played Tina to Hurricane Ike. Crap weather all weekend, spectators getting slapped (get it?) around by the wind, MotoGP race cut short, and the 250's were scrapped altogether...all while Yamaha's display tent made its way onto the back straight. Thrilling. This year looked to be more of the same...Friday's first practice went from wettish, to drying, to wet again, and finally, wetter. Pedrosa was fast all weekend and took pole...Lorenzo and Rossi filled out the first row of the grid. The great American hopes of Hayden and Edwards filled out the ass end of the second row. With Stoner still back in Australia battling the Kangaroo flu, or whatever, it looked like the race would be a 3-way fight amongst the front row dudes...or would it? Rossi came into this round 50 points ahead of Lorenzo in the championship. Lorenzo came into this round with a sweet Captain America replica helmet. Pedrosa came into this round on a tricycle.

Sunday came, and holy shit...it was sunny! Asparagus won the 125's, Simoncelli took the 250's, the MotoGP 'drivers' took their grid spots, our national anthem was poorly karaoke'd by Miss America, and boom goes the dynamite! As expected, lil' Dani took the lead as the field piled into turn 1 and by the time lap 1 was completed, he had gapped the field by a little over a second...followed by Rossi and Lorenzo.

Edwards was sitting back in 4th, but was being pushed from the rear by DeAngelis (#15) and his helmet. DeAngelis was really giving Edwards a hard time and went up the inside of him at turn 2, but Edwards returned the favor and retook his position. At this point, DeAngelis asserted his dominance and took the top position, between the two, for the final time. Nicky Hayden followed DeAngelis' example and also went up the inside of Edwards to take another position.

Meanwhile...things at the front remained the same until the end of the third lap, when Pedrosa lost the front of his Honda going into the tight final corner. To his credit (and the onlooker's amazement), Pedro managed to lift his bike up, remount (28 seconds behind the last place rider) and charge through to an eventual 10th place finish. Nice work, little dude.

And then there were two...with Pedro out, Lorenzo wasted no time in closing the gap on Rossi. A few laps later, Lorenzo took the lead from Rossi at the end of the aircraft carrier. Now that was Rossi sitting in 2nd, he did what he usually does and applied the pressure from behind. He followed Lorenzo around for a few laps and then REALLY applied the pressure...to the Indy tarmac with his helmet and leathers. That's right, Rossi crashed out. Bummer. He managed to get back on track, but retired a few laps later with a bent something-or-other.

With Rossi out (and his 50 championship lead about to be slashed in half), Lorenzo enjoyed roughly a 2 day lead over evryone else. What's a boy to do? Spend the last 2 laps of the race practicing his victory wheelie...which, in the end, was really fucking long. DeAngelis cruised to his first MotoGP podium in a safe 2nd place. In the closing laps, Hayden sat in third, but was under fire from Dovizioso. Spurred on by the fact that the sooner he finished the race, the sooner he could get out of his ridiculous KFC bucket-themed leathers. Hayden succeeded in holding off Dovi and took the final spot on the podium.

So, there you have it....Lorenzo is back in the title chase as the series heads to Rossi's home race at San Marino next weekend. Game on!

Race Result: 1)Lorenzo 2)DeAngelis 3)Hayden 4)Dovizioso 5)Edwards 6)Toseland 7)Capirossi 8)Kallio 9)Elias 10)Pedrosa 11)Vermeulen 12)DePuniet 13)Espargaro 15)Talmacsi

Gravelboat:Rossi/Melandri/Canepa

**Pics courtesy of superbikeplanet.com and motogp.com

T...out