MotoGP: Lorenzo has landed

One of my best chances to be a spectator at a MotoGP race came and went 2 Sundays ago, when the most powerful circuit racing sport-bikes in the world, rode into the Mazda Raceway (Laguna Seca) for the Red Bull US Grand Prix.

Home advantage is a huge motivator and I am pretty certain the 4 Americans on the grid fancied their chances going into the race. Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) quickly brought them to reality when he clinched his 5th successive pole. The top five was completed by Stoner (Ducati Team), Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) and the highest placed American, Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech 3).

Pedrosa

Pedrosa pulled another of his NHRA dragster type starts and took the lead. Stoner did his best to keep pace in second, but as Lorenzo closed in, he blinked, ran wide and gave Lorenzo second. The pace at the front was frightening. Lorenzo inched closer, Pedrosa asked more of his equipment and it was too much. The Repsol Honda protested and left Pedrosa sniffing tarmac, with 21 laps to go. Pedrosa’s exit, meant Lorenzo’s entrance to the top spot. The battle for third and fourth became the next hot ticket.

Dovizioso was comfortable for an interval in third, as Rossi, Hayden and Spies tried to resolve fourth. Spies eased by Hayden and made a move for Rossi’s spot, but Rossi had other ideas. He frowned upon Spies’s advance, rode through the pain barrier and went after Dovizioso. It wasn’t long before Rossi caught and slipped by Dovizioso. Dovizioso fought back, but it was pointless.

Lorenzo

Lorenzo’s dominance of the 2010 season continued as he ‘wheelied’ to victory, with Stoner 2nd and Rossi 3rd. A Lorenzo victory means a unique celebration and this time he went for the moon landing routine, complete with an astronaut’s outfit. What will he think of next?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer