Stoner Ruins Rossi Fairytale Comeback at Last Turn
The German MotoGP at Sachensring was won in a stunning performance by Dani Pedrosa ahead of Jorge Lorenzo who hasn’t finished lower than 2nd all season. But the attention of fans worldwide was on the return of Valentino Rossi to MotoGP just 6 weeks after fracturing his right leg.
In a race interrupted by a red flag, a very much depleted field of 13 started a 21 lap flag to flag race that became 12 after Mika Kallio crashed on the first lap. Lorenzo looked like has was going to run away even as Pedrosa dogged him but after a few failed attempts, Dani made a pass stick and simply rode away, breaking the lap record in the process.
Further back as the field settled down, all interest was on the battle for the final podium position as Marlboro Ducati’s Casey Stoner couldn’t hold onto the Spaniards and was chased down by an impressive Valentino Rossi, back after missing 4 races due to the leg he broke just 6 weeks earlier in practice at Mugello.
Could Rossi deliver a miracle and get onto the podium? Alas no. After swapping positions with Stoner, he had the position as they crossed the line for the penultimate time. Taking defensive lines, he looked like he might keep it, but wily Stoner converted a strong drive from a deep entry into the last turn but one into an aggressive block pass on the final turn to take third.
Stoner has now finished 3rd, three times in a row and Rossi, well, what can you say? Ducati News expects Rossi to announce his move to Ducati for 2011 around the Brno round of the championship scheduled for August 15th.
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1) Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda
2) Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha
3) Casey Stoner MarlboroDucati
4) Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha
5) Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda
6) Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda
7) Nicky Hayden MarlboroDucati
Ben Spies Tech 3 Yamaha
9) Hector Barbera AsparDucati
10) Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda
11) Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki
12) Alex De Angelis Interwetten Honda
Want More?
Why Rossi will Switch to Ducati
Stoner to Join Honda for 2011
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