Valentino Rossi has moved into second place in the championship following a dramatic race win at the Sachsenring circuit. The Italian rider started the race in 10th place, having said after qualifying that he needed a 'great job from the mechanics' on Saturday night if he was going to be able to chase the lead group, let alone challenge for the lead.
With Sete Gibernau and Toni Elias both returning from injury this weekend it looked as though the MotoGP paddock was back to normal and 19 bikes would line up on the grid, however a crash during Sunday's warm-up session before the race meant Casey Stoner's race was over before it started. The Aussie rider went to a local hospital so that a scan could be completed to see if he had sustained any concussion - he hadn't.
Nonetheless, the circuit doctor decided to block Casey's participation in the race, so we were down to 18 bikes and everyone who qualified in 11th to 19th was bumped up one position on the grid.
Fortunately the race itself got off to a clean start, with Dani Pedrosa, Kenny Roberts, Nicky Hayden and Makoto Tamada (yep - you read that right) leading the pack. Within a few laps Marco Melandri was also moving up the order and, surprise surprise, Valentino Rossi was heading for the front.
It soon became clear that anyone in the leading six could be in with a shot, with positions changing every lap and even Loris Capirossi and Shinya Nakano in 6th and 7th just a second or two further back looking like they could spring a surprise.
With 20 laps completed and 10 remaining Kenny Roberts made a move up the inside of Makoto Tamada for fifth position. Unfortunately the former world champion lost the front end of his KR211V whilst on the brakes, going down instantly and collecting Tamada in the process. With Makoto putting on a rare display of good form you had to feel for him, although an apologetic Kenny was straight to his side to make sure he was alright.
Following Tamada and Roberts' departure the leading group continued to change positions as each lap passed. Valentino Rossi moved up to second, overtaking Dani Pedrosa. Melandri led but you could barely call it a lead, and Hayden was just as close in fourth.
With 2 laps remaining Pedrosa had lost out to Hayden and tried to retake 3rd by moving up the inside at the Omega turn. The ex-dirt tracker was having none of it though and kept a tight line, forcing Dani onto the brakes where he missed Nicky's rear tyre by millimeters. 'Team mates'? Yeah, right.
Later on in the lap Rossi moved into first on the brakes of the 'waterfall' section of the track where he would try and remain for the next couple of miles. There was still nothing between the four riders and Melandri managed to get a wheel in front on a couple of occasions on the last lap, but this one was to be Valentino's and he took the chequered flag with Melandri, Hayden and Pedrosa following him in the next 3 tenths of a second.
Honda's official press release after the race called this Sunday 'one of the great MotoGP races', despite Valentino Rossi winning on a Yamaha. So whatever you do, make sure you beg, borrow or steal a copy and enjoy it in full before next weekend at Laguna Seca.
Source:
http://www.motoreview.net