MotoGP: Pedrosa blitzed the pack in Germany

Dani Pedrosa has carved out a niche for himself in MotoGP history – think Flash Gordon fast, from a standing start! He has mastered a trick which many MotoGP riders want in their arsenal. If Pedrosa qualifies anywhere near the front of the grid, some amount of fireworks should be expected.

But motor racing has a dark side. Accidents and injuries have a way of stalling the best laid plans. Pedrosa’s itinerary for the 2011 season, was hacked by a Simoncelli move, in an earlier round. The broken collarbone he sustained, ruled him out briefly, but, at the German GP, his second race back from surgery, Pedrosa produced a performance deserving of an Oscar!

When the machines roared off, Pedrosa pulled his trick – got his lightning start and leaned into turn 1, first, ahead of Lorenzo and Stoner. The race began at a furious pace, characterized by bold and forceful passing. At the close of lap 1, the pit board showed Lorenzo –P1 and the Repsol Honda trio – Pedrosa, Stoner and Dovizioso –  forming a chain of attack behind.

Normally, as a race takes shape, some of the intensity gets lost as a clear leader emerges. The German GP confronted the norm and executed it! The ferocity of the battles on track knew no time out. Amnesty was a foreign concept. It was a rev for a rev, pass vs pass affair. Bruce Willis’ mentality in - Last Man Standing -was refreshingly present throughout.

Repsol Honda

The Repsol Honda boys did their best to bully a defiant Lorenzo. At one stage, he had to contend with Stoner and after he dispatched Stoner, Pedrosa flung himself back into the ring. Pedrosa was like a relentless tiger and the exhausted prey, Lorenzo, surrendered finally on lap 21.

The firestorm at the front, was just a part of the story of the German GP. Hotspots were everywhere. The siege for 4th, involving Dovizioso, Spies and Simoncelli went to the wire, with less than a second separating them!

The Ducati pair, Hayden and Rossi, was also locked in a war of positions with Alvaro Bautista. Bautista did his team proud by clinging on to 7th, ahead of Hayden, 8th  and Rossi, 9th.

With bayonets at the ready, the MotoGP warriors waged reckless plunder, which conceived immeasurable viewing pleasure. Moments, like Lorenzo coaxing brilliance from his Yamaha and blowing by Stoner on the last turn, of the last lap, for 2nd , will be filed under the heading – memorable. What remains to be said however is this – Pedrosa blitzed the pack in Germany!  Well done Dani Pedrosa!

2011 German GP

The riders and machines are already at Laguna Seca for Sunday’s race. Any predictions?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer