MotoGP: Lorenzo keeps his championship hopes alive at Indy

- Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix

With a new lap record wedged in his chain, Dani Pedrosa led into the first corner at the Indianapolis Speedway. Pedrosa was fastest all weekend and he wanted it to remain that way. To do that in a field with the depth of the talent in MotoGP, you have to push hard. Pedrosa applied himself, but was only half of a second in front of Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. Pedrosa fell victim to his race plan on lap 4. He lost the front of his Repsol Honda and crashed out. Pedrosa’s mishap handed the lead to a grateful Rossi who was being hounded by his teammate and rival Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo was in his usual attack mode with Rossi in his sights and he made his move a few laps later, by using the draft to overpower Rossi into turn 1.

Rossi, possibly shaken by his teammate’s speed, lost focus and allowed his bike to wander off- line. Rossi is known to have brief conversations with his bike before a race, but apparently the last conversation did not go well. It was an unusual but costly mistake. Rossi lost the front end, crashed out on lap 9 and gave Lorenzo an early Christmas present. Lorenzo did not hesitate to show his appreciation. He kept twisting the throttle, kept his bike under him, despite the ridiculous lean angles and he did not put a wheel wrong.

Riding with a burning desire to win, Lorenzo sped to a nine seconds lead, enough for him to pull a front stretch wheelie to take the checkered flag. Lorenzo was overjoyed and if the wheelie wasn’t enough, he climbed the fence at the Brickyard and made the fans apart of his party. With the victory, Lorenzo cuts Rossi’s lead in the championship in half, to 25 points, with 6 rounds remaining.

Grand Prix in Italy

Both Fiat Yamaha riders are already clicking off fast times in the sessions for the Grand Prix this weekend in Italy. Rossi is a mere tenth of a second quicker than Lorenzo. This Sunday’s race should be a cracker!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-line Writer