MotoGP: Rossi steals the champagne!

Author : cmunroe

I told you it was a loaded weekend, packed with racing treats. There was too much happening and I did not mention NASCAR, Pikes Peak or the Rolex endurance series at Watkins Glen!

MotoGP was first out of the gate and the race which blazed through Assen, Holland was a memorable event. It will be labelled by some as an historic event!

In some circles Valentino Rossi is not a human being, he is a legend, a superstar, a god riding a motorcycle. He has too many MotoGP championships and in his country of origin, Italy, he might have more followers than the Catholic faith!

But, on a serious note, despite his repertoire, Rossi, ‘the Doctor’, has not won a MotoGP race in 2+ years and it was felt that his return to Yamaha would end the drought he was experiencing.

The other teams on the grid were not sitting on their laurels though and they were more than equipped to ensure that ‘the Doctor’s’ drought continued. Rossi has shown flashes of brilliance at the other Rounds prior to Assen, but with his teammate, Lorenzo and enemies, Pedrosa and the new phenom, Marquez, all as sharp as 100 Gillette razor-blades, Rossi’s return to P1 seemed like a rapidly fading dream.

Assen held surprises though. First, Lorenzo crashed and had to seek surgery and then Cal Crutchlow performed a miracle – he stole pole! Race-day saw the incredible return of Lorenzo and we all knew that interesting things were ahead.

The battles at the front of the grid were fierce. Teammates, Pedrosa and Marquez kept the fight in-house, but Rossi was always closing, with Crutchlow sneaking-in for a break. It was clear, however, that Rossi was in a no-nonsense mood. He bullied Marquez, then Pedrosa and went riding off into the sunset. There was no catching him and the remaining battles were always for  P2 and P3.

Marquez kept his fire burning though and claimed P2 from a struggling Pedrosa who had to concede P3 to the late-charging Crutchlow.

It was an epic GP and when the checkered flag waved, I am certain all of Italy celebrated. Rossi, the victor, stole all of the champagne! If it was not obvious before, it should be obvious now -  ‘The Doctor’ is back!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer

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