Czech Republic MotoGP Results: Round 11 from Brno
Rossi Doubles his Points Lead with Victory as Lorenzo Crashes Out
Valentino Rossi took another victory today during round 11 of the 2009 MotoGP Championship at Brno, Czech Republic, doubling his lead in the series as a result of his team mate’s crash and Casey Stoner’s absence. The two Yamaha men were in a class of their own and traded lap records back and forth as the 800′s surpassed the old 990cc pace. Pedrosa finished second and a looking for work Elias took the final step on the podium.
Lorenzo had been fastest all weekend except for the one lap that counted most on Saturday as Rossi had started from pole and quickly dispatched the fast starting Pedrosa in the second turn. The two Yamaha’s rapidly pulled away from Pedrosa’s Honda leaving him in a pretty lonely race as he was well clear of his pursuers.
Lorenzo traded lap records back and forth with Rossi before finally pouncing at a chicane. Rossi was setting up for a simlar move a few laps later when an offline and wide Lorenzo lost the front and was unable to rejoin. He looked a bit like the Michelin man with his Dainese airbag suit doing it’s job. Toni Elias had to work hard for third up against Andrea Dovizioso who survived a mammoth 2-wheel slide in the fading laps and a quick Loris Capirossi on the Suzuki.
Ducati fared perhaps better than expected with Nicky Hayden, under pressure to perform with new rookie teammate, Mika Kallio, also in red colors for the first time took 6th place beating usual best of the rest Colin Edwards. Mika Kallio was just behind until the second to last lap when an aggressive pass by Marco Melandri on the Hayate Kawsaki saw both men go down. Michel Fabrizio, subbing for Kallio on the Pramac Ducati retired early in the race with arm pump.
Valentino Rossi- 1st: “I knew that today would be tough because Jorge had gone with a fantastic pace in the practices. So I tried to make the perfect race, great start, stay at the front and push like a devil! I was making it hard work for him and then when he overtook me with six laps to go I was ready for battle and to put on a good show.” “On turn three he lost the front and it is very bad for Jorge, it is a pity, but it is good for us as we now have a 50-point lead. There is still a long way to the end of the season but we have a good advantage, so we have to keep pushing and stay focused.”
link: MotoGP.com
Toni Elias- 3rd: “I’m in a difficult situation because I don’t have a team and I don’t have a bike. I think this result could help but I don’t think anyone really wants me, so what can I do? I have to just concentrate on the next few races, like Indianapolis and Misano, which could be good for us also. We are talking with some teams, but at the moment there are not so many options.”
link: MotoGP.com
Jorge Lorenzo- DNF: “I got a bad start and had to get by some people, and then I just didn’t have the same pace that I’d had all weekend. I was slower than in the practices and it really wasn’t what I was expecting. Unfortunately for me Valentino was just as strong as he’d been all weekend and I had to push very, very hard to stay with him. Towards the end I began to close the gap and after I passed him I was doing everything to stay in front, but then I made a mistake and crashed.” He modestly added, “There’s nothing more I can say except that I’m so sorry to the team and to Yamaha and I will do everything I can to make it up in America.”
link: MotoGP.com
Nicky Hayden- 6th: “We have higher goals than this but sixth place is my second best result of the season so I have to be satisfied for today. After the disaster at Donington this has been a respectable weekend for us. The team did a great job all weekend getting the front working better for me so we’ve made progress and that is the most important thing. The race certainly wasn’t easy – I lost a couple of positions off the line but had a good first lap and was able to get into that second group. To be honest from that point I was holding on, going as fast as I had all weekend and when we got up behind Colin I was able to make another pass. I could see the group ahead of me and as they made a couple of mistakes I could have maybe got there. I just pushed too hard and ran wide in a couple of places and had to do my best to hold my position. They were breathing all over me during those last couple of laps but I hung on and got sixth. We were only less than four seconds off the podium so we’re obviously making some headway. I want to thank the team because it’s not been an easy time recently but today we have something to be proud of.”
Mika Kallio- DNF: “My start was typical of this year – not good but not bad – and I pretty much held my grid position into the first turn. After that the bike was similar to how it’s been all weekend – there is still something missing with the front feeling and even though I could stay with the second group I couldn’t pass anybody because I don’t have that front-end confidence you need to brake late or take a more risky line. The proof of that was when De Angelis had his problem and slowed down, I was able to pass him and improve my lap times by half a second to catch Nicky and Edwards. Then came the crash with Melandri, who tried to pass me where it was impossible to, so that finally our lines crossed! Anyway, it has been an interesting weekend and I think if we can find something that gives me more feel with the front we can make a big step forward.”
link: Superbike Planet
MotoGP Results from Brno
1. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha), 43:08.991, 22 laps
2. Dani PEDROSA (Honda), -11.766 seconds
3. Toni ELIAS (Honda), -20.756
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda), -21.418
5. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki), -21.538
6. Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati), -25.544
7. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha), -25.676
8. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda), -34.109
9. James TOSELAND (Yamaha), -35.617
10. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda), -39.824
11. Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki), -40.776
12. Niccolo CANEPA (Ducati), -50.661
13. Gabor TALMACSI (Honda), -59.188
14. Mika KALLIO (Ducati), -2 laps, DNF, crash
15. Marco MELANDRI (Kawasaki), -2 laps, DNF, crash
16. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha), -5 laps, DNF, crash
17. Michel FABRIZIO (Ducati), -16 laps, DNF, retired
Rossi now has a 50 point lead in the series from Lorenzo with Stoner still in 3rd a further 12 points behind. Pedrosa is 15 points behind Stoner in 4th place. The next race is the Indianapolis Grand Prix in the USA on August 30th.
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