A Nail Biting Finish

After fulfilling my professional responsibilities on Sunday, I returned home at 4:50 pm. As I got in, I followed the routine, kicked off the shoes, checked the refrigerator, convinced that it will manufacture refreshments and tasty treats that I did not put in there and then I turned on the television. I saw a motorcycle race in progress and I smiled. When I realized that the 250 cc race was about to finish, my smile grew even wider. I was now doing a Colgate commercial because the main event, MotoGP, was only ten minutes away.

By the time I got comfortable, it was 5pm and the bikes were shown doing the warm up lap. In the build up to the race, the commentator explained that the two Yamahas, ridden by Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were first and second on the grid followed by Casey Stoner. Jorge Lorenzo had the quickest lap in qualifying, by the slimmest of margins and as such it was evident that a classic race was on the cards. The commentators were aware of this as well and they were busy expressing how anxious they were to see the green (the start of the race).

Rossi vs Lorenzo

When the race began, Lorenzo led the early laps but was passed by Rossi on the start-finish straight on lap 4.Rossi tried to ‘break’ Lorenzo but there was no getting rid of Jorge on his home track. Jorge stayed close and blew by Rossi on lap 13.The reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi, then did what he does best. Rossi allowed Lorenzo to run at the front and did just enough to remind him (Lorenzo) that he was there. It was my view that Rossi would pass Lorenzo with a few laps remaining and as if my mind was being read, the commentators expressed a similar opinion. The commentator went further and suggested that Rossi would possibly make his move with 3 laps remaining. Rossi was listening. At the end of the 22nd lap, coming on to the start- finish straight Rossi tucked in behind Lorenzo, used the draft and passed Lorenzo before turn one, with 3 laps to go!

Lorenzo was not about to be embarrassed by Rossi in front of his fans. He dug deep, very deep, stuck to Rossi’s back wheel like chewing gum on a new shoe and he rode pass Rossi on the start-finish straight with one lap to go! Now, this is where legends are made. The leader on the final lap in Moto Gp has not been overtaken since 2006, but with Rossi in second place, inches from his young, presumptuous team mate’s back wheel, I was prepared to bet that the statistic was about to be changed. Rossi is the defending world champion and team leader, he was not about to surrender the psychological advantage in the team. The preternatural Valentino Rossi enjoys a battle and inorder to win the war he had to win this battle and he knew it.

Final Lap

Rossi made several attempts to pass Lorenzo. Entering or exiting each corner he would make an attack or prepare for the next attack, but each time Lorenzo would slam the door shut. I was desperate now, it was difficult to see how Rossi could pass Lorenzo with Lorenzo riding the way he was. But I overlooked an important fact, Rossi is super human, he did not become a world champion nine times by chance, he rode for all of them.

Three corners to go, Lorenzo first, Rossi second, two corners to go, Lorenzo first, Rossi  second. Going into the final corner of the final lap Jorge Lorenzo learnt an invaluable lesson, he left a minute opening and that was all Rossi needed. On the last corner of the last lap, Valentino Rossi pulled a trick out of the bag and passed his impudent team-mate when he least expected it. I was ecstatic. My neighbor is now convinced that I have moved beyond insanity. My celebratory rant was deafening, but what I saw from the comfort of my humble abode, justified my senseless behavior. Valentino Rossi, the Greatest off All Time!