MotoGP: Pedrosa wins in Portugal

The Easter Carnival of Speed at Dover Raceway and the engaging war of the worlds it promised, involving David ‘King’ Summerbell Jr. and the deviant who threatened to depose him, Doug ‘Hollywood’ Gore, kept me in a state which marijuana smokers refer to as a ‘high’. My trance was characterized by busy spells, only experienced during the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC), which incidentally, begins in a few weeks!

Imagine how bulbous my eyes made themselves when I realized that MotoGP was on last Sunday. The race was marked for Sunday, 7am. I was saved by the programme guide!

Round 2

At Round 2 in Jerez, while ripping through the pack, Rossi lost the front of his Ducati. Unfortunately, when he found it, it was buried under Casey Stoner’s Repsol Honda! Lorenzo went on to win the race, a fitting present for the 100,000 Spanish fans were present.

Rossi, the crash dummy, with the media in tow, went over to Casey Stoner’s pit to apologize. During the apology, Stoner said words to the effect of – your ambition was greater than your ability. Stoner’s remark created its own volcanic eruption and even at Round 3, the lava flowed quietly!

Round 3

At Round 3 in Portugal, Lorenzo sat on pole and when the race began, his agenda was obvious – he wanted the lead.

Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) knows nothing about poker! He folded early. He was hurled violently by an uncooperative machine from P3. As the race took shape, 3 things became clear :

1. the fight for 1st and 2nd would be between Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa

2. Stoner was sitting rather pretty in 3rd

3. Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) would be banging fairings for 4th.

Pedrosa played the perfect cat and mouse game, patiently stalking Lorenzo and with 3 laps to go, he blew by like a hurricane on steroids! A stunned Lorenzo didn’t get close to Pedrosa until they were standing next to each other in on the podium.

Casey Stoner rode unchallenged to third. Rossi was heinously bamboozled into thinking that he had 4th sewn up, but Dovizioso kept his cards close to his chest. As Rossi’s machine punched a hole in the air exiting the final corner, Dovizioso remained glued to the Ducati’s rear wheel. He tucked behind Rossi, rode the power the draft gave and slid by Rossi to steal 4th on the finish line! Thrilling stuff. The 2011 MotoGP season is living up to expectations. Who do you think will win Round 4?

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer