Round 11 - Brno MotoGP

The brief summer respite is over for the MotoGP pressure cooker, as

the temperature rises once again here amongst the pack hillsides of

Brno. Today is all about Jorge Lorenzo against Casey Stoner, who

took a crucial victory three weeks ago. Jorge Lorenzo had cut stone

a's lead to 50 points before the US Grand Prix but he was lucky to be

racing a tour after a crash in practice. The Spaniard bounced back

with a stunning qualifying performance, then turned pole

position into an early race lead. After winning in Germany last time

out, Dani Pedrosa was back on the pace, passing Casey Stoner at the

start. Once he closed down the lead, he struggled to maintain the speed.

After watching Lorenzo and Pedrosa's efforts in the first part

of the race, Casey Stoner struck. There is no coming back from the

The 5th when of the season for the Australian put him back in control

of the championship. Back in control but it was something of an

opportunist win with Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa are struggling for

fitness. It has been the case really here and now, about 25

minutes to race start. Casey Stoner is in the race box, still with

plenty to talk about with the mechanics. He said last night he

was happy to have a chat with us at this point in the programme, but

unfortunately he was 5th fastest and not happy at all. A different

story a couple of doors down - Jorge Lorenzo was second fastest in

the warm up, albeit off the pace of Dani Pedrosa, who was 0.7 seconds

clear of the field. As I said, the championship story is all about

Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner here this weekend. That victory for

Casey Stoner three weeks ago put him 20 points clear in the

championship standings. It would have been 10 points if Jorge

Lorenzo had managed to have gone to Lorenzo had managed to have gone to

the victory -- hang on to the after a victory at Sachsenring and

third place at Laguna Seca, that game after four races out with a

broken collarbone. An amazing return to fitness for the Spaniard.

How does he do it? I thought we upside-down and wins in Portugal.

Talk about pushing, Dani Pedrosa et Dani Pedrosa. The pace he put on in

the last couple of laps was extraordinary. After that injury,

you came back to take the victory at Sachsenring. Were you surprised

how quickly you came back to winning ways? Yes, I was very

The race was hard when I came back. I expected that so it was normal.

Then I thought, OK, we are going to Sachsenring, I can improve. Instead

of finishing in eighth place, I can be me be around five. Then I

managed to come back and win the race. It was really impressive for

me, also for my team. They were surprised. Emotionally, it must

have been a big victory for you as well? Yes, just after the victories,

both of them were very emotional. For this is not the first season

his championship challenge has been curtailed by injury, leading some

doubt as to suggest this time he might not bounce back at all.

after so many injuries, my body is not like it was before. I start to

feel the injuries more than when I was 16. To get back, it is not easy

this time. The doubts other people had about you when you were a way,

do they ever cross your mind? know how it works so it is normal.

Normally the press picks you up and takes you down immediately. More

than that, at the same time I had all of the fans, my family around,

they help a lot not to come to deep down. I had my moments where I

thought I don't want to get crash - - I don't want to crush any more,

it is painful and I don't want any more surgeries but it is thanks to

them. It looks like I am good enough. The you can definitely say

that. What about your relationship with some of the other riders? We

know you have had a problem with Simoncelli, but in the past you and

Jorge Lorenzo seemed to be friends. Yes, we had a good communication at

that time, but we are quite nice to a completely different story. Time

Can we expect you to win any more in the season?

Of course. To get victories is hard because Casey Stoner and Jorge

Lorenzo are very good but if I can get back in shape soon, I still may

well win races. If I can get some more victories before the end of

the season, I will be happy. If not, you get an injury and you know when

you come back you will win! No, I try not to get injuries, just

victories. Great to see him looking so confident. He is on pole

position this weekend. Charlie, he has shown such great resilience to

come back after some bad injuries and to keep smiling like that. You

know what it is like to come back from injuries and you are still

smiling. I am just a happy-go-lucky man. Dani Pedrosa is running the

risk of becoming the greatest rider never to win a championship. This

year he was really pushing Casey Stoner hard. Before he was taken

out, he was in the title hunt but not now. Championship pace now, the

last two races, as good as you have seen him ride? Absolutely, you can

mend bones but the confidence is back now as well and he will be the

man to beat. The man they are chasing in the championship, when

he is confident, have a look at this... Casey Stoner in slow-motion.

You can see the rear wheel spinning up, it is travelling faster than

the front wheel. He is lifting up his elbow because he is so close to

the kerb. It is such a treat to watch someone doing that at so many

frames per second. A beautiful shot. Unfortunately not riding with that

much confidence this weekend, but I know you were on your computer all

night so tell us about this graphic you were working on. Look at this.

He is trying to hold the bike upright as much as he can. It is

spectacular to work out how he is doing that. The suspension is

pressed, and the motorcycle should not really be standing up. He is

cheating because he is leaning on the kerb. Steve is downloading

information most nights, really committed. We have got to say, when

we are talking about extreme leaning, the king of it, John

Hopkins, he was one of the first MotoGP riders to be getting his

elbow down, he was going to be here this weekend but it has all gone

wrong. Yes, such a shame because it has been going so well. A pretty

straightforward crash, but as he hits the gravel, he catches his

fingers, dislocates one and breaks two more. He has got to be out on

his own bike in the next couple of weeks but it was going brilliantly

well and we need him back here. has shown he has the ability to be

here. No question about it, he wants to be back next year. It was

so disappointing because I think they are also trying to convince

Suzuki to be here and have two motorcycles. Problems for Suzuki,

but light at the end of the tunnel for Ducatis this weekend. They have

made some good changes, it is starting to work. They have changed

their head stuck on the bike. They are definitely moving in the right

direction. The question is when it go for the whole race? You're

getting attacked by a wasp. I think it is my hair gel. The track

temperature will be a big issue because we have not have these

temperatures all week. A no, it has changed a lot, a lot of rain

yesterday as well. It will be a lot about estimation and getting it

right but it should be a great race. Meanwhile, we have been looking at

the British riders from the 122 cc class and taking them back to

You are late, get inside! Be careful, Harry. Bradley, thanks for

the Apple. Scott, Daniel, pay attention. We are at the halfway

point of the season. Who has had the most crashes this year? Harry.

When Harry applies himself, he is very capable but his discipline

leaves a lot to be desired. He showed improvement in the last race

and he was looking for his first ever points finish before a crash

on the last lap. Hopefully he can build on the momentum and have a

more consistent second half. It has not been my fault. Who is the top

Brit in the 125 class? That is me. Danny is doing very well this year

and has really taken to his new surroundings. He finished 4th in

one race and has had four top-ten finishes. He has a bright future

ahead of him and should be challenging for podiums soon.

really happy with how the season has gone. Attendance - who missed a

practice session to sit their A- level exam? That one was Taylor.

Snitch. Taylor has shown how capable he is taking fifth-place in

the wet in Spain. One crash in eight races is not bad. He needs to

start finishing in the points more often this year. Now I have an

engine, I will try harder. Progress - who has been held back for a 50

it in 125s? That will be Dani. Danny has always had a reputation

for crashing but he has matured this year and is doing a good job

of developing his bike. He showed great strength to ride after a

crash in warm up and has made a big That is all right. Not too bad.

has got the most podium finishes this year? That is me. Bradley has

taken very well to the challenge of MotoGP. He had a little slip up in

the last race in Germany when he was lucky to escape unhurt.

Hopefully that will not halt his momentum. He currently lies 5th.

Good. Mummy and daddy will be pleased. Attitude. Who has been in

trouble for fighting? There were high hopes for a Scot coming into

the second season. Unfortunately he has not been able to turn his

natural talent into results. He needs to learn to control his

temper in class and qualified further up the field. -- and to

qualify. An impressive finish in Germany should give him the

confidence. That is the only Grade I got in my career. I guess I will

have to up my game. God, that is really depressing! The headmaster

wants to see you after class. The rest of you will have to work

harder to stop the Spanish kids Remind me never to get on the wrong

side of her! One of the riders was Taylor Mackenzie. I have got his

dad, Neil McKenzie. We heard the half term report. What is Urus?

think it was fair. He has to improve in quite a few areas. It is

a tough. He is riding with some of the best riders in the world. It is

a roller-coaster. Toffs some weekends. Other weekends he

surprises himself. It is a massive jigsaw. Every week there is another

piece in place and you make progress. He has got plenty of

promise. That peace was filmed before today's races. Taylor

finished 23rd. Danny crashed out. Harry finished 30th. Danny Webb was

12. Bradley Smith crashed. Not a great day. What about the premier

class? What do you make of Cal Crutchlow's season? Very difficult

for Cal. He has proved he has got the potential. He is making

progress. He is looking quite competitive. Looking good. It is a

track he is familiar with. Yes, I'm expecting top six or seven today.

They at would be a great result. Cal is fighting for rookie of the

year. He has only got one of Poland. That is the man riding his bike.

Karel Abraham. This is his home race. His dad owns part of the

circuit. And he also owns the team. How has the transition been to

MotoGP? You did get a lot of criticism last year because this is

your father's team. How did that make you feel? It was a bad feeling.

But at the end of the year I was trying to get the best results. The

people who like me, like me. Those who do not will doubt me. What

about the level and MotoGP? Did you expect to be where you were?

expected to be a little bit worse. I am surprised with my results. The

season is not over. My experience so far is if I do not do well,

everything goes a lot worse. It is very difficult to get back to the

rhythm. We have to push as hard as we can. What about this weekend?

This is a special race track and the special crowd? There is a lot

of pressure. Pressure from sponsors, fans, family, friends. They are

trying to be nice with me. Everybody asking questions. The

press conferences and everything. That makes the pressure. It will be

difficult. What is it about this place that makes it so special?

This is a very trick -- tricky part of the track. It changes direction.

Exiting out of the corners here is very important. Let's have a look

at the two chicanes. This is turn 11 and 12. It is very steep. What

else about it is important? Were when you're on the bike you do not

feel at that stage. It is interesting. It is very important.

You have to be good at the exit. You have to be very fast through

turn 12. Carry the speed on that straight up the hill. Exiting the

corner you lose five times more at the end. That is going into the

final chicane where it is everything or bossed? Right.

Hopefully you will be fighting for a good position on Sunday. Good

I am afraid it is going to be difficult for him to be fighting

for a good position today. There is nobody behind him. He starts in the

Crutchlow came a cropper on turned 10. -- turned 10. Rossi has had a

wretched time recently. He put in a good performance to claim a. Casey

Stoner had the odd moment. He held the top spots until 15 minutes from

the end when Jorge Lorenzo knocked him off his perch. Dani Pedrosa 0

beat the pair of them to claim his Dani Pedrosa on pole position for

the first time this season. Ben Spies, an impressive race starter.

He has had a pinched nerve. Until now he has only been able to put

four Halve laughs together. How do you feel? Usually I am looking

forward to the end of the race. Now it is about damage control. We will

do the best we can for as long as we can and see what happens. It has

been a tough weekend so far. I am getting more tired. The team has

been doing a great job. The bike is working great. Given the

uncertainty, what is the plan of attack? Will you have to make a

really good start? Yes. Ride as hard as I can for as long as I can

and try to make it to the finish. Ben Spies a contender. Cal

Crutchlow is here. A much-needed summer break. You must be glad to

be back at Assen could you know well? Yes, I know it well. But

Colin has been here nine times more than me. It has been OK. Stupid

crash in qualifying yesterday. My own fault. Tried to carry the break

into the corner. One of those things. If we can get a good

start... Maybe we can have a bit of a battle. Cal in 11th place. A few

things to wrap up. One is the performance of Valentino Rossi. He

is fifth on the grid. His best of the season. His mechanic was joking

on Twitter that they had found a cardboard box in the corner of the

garage with the missing piece of the did so. I am not sure it is

that simple. Valentino making his last preparations. By Alex Jo Pay

that you had fanned a cardboard box in the corner of the garage. I am

sure it is more complicated? Yes. We had made improvements to the

bike. It is good to be on the second row. We will see after the

22 laps. Is there anything technically that you have brought

back from the summer break? But of little things. -- lots of little

things. There is the front row of the grid. Dani Pedrosa or aiming to

win in all three classics. Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo

the only other riders to do that. Lorenzo was last year's winner.

Casey Stoner is top of the Championship. Chasing his 9th

consecutive podium, his longest one. The times we have seen during

practice have been pretty close. Stoner not happy with third place.

It is two-tenths off. He was working hard to close that gap.

Simoncelli, we need to talk a bit about him. He has gone a bit quiet.

second row... He is not renowned for a fast start. We will see.

There they hour. -- their they are. will be a great opportunity to see

this astonishing track. It is unbelievable. The elevation changes,

the duration of the track. These tyres will get a workout. That is

the first turn. It is a long corner. Into the first chicane. That was

where Lorenzo crashed a few years back. Hopefully he will not do that

today. Lorenzo is going for a softer front tyre. The rest of the

field has gone for the heart tyre. hit the -- downhill here. If he did

not have conferred with the front end of the bike, it would be a

nightmare. -- comfort. He it would be. We are riding with Colin

Edwards. This is a downhill part. This is the lowest part of the

circuit. It climbs about 250 ft chicane, 13 and 14. So many second

gear corners on this circuit, they will be wearing them out. There are

some pretty meaty clouds overhead. It will do two things - if it keeps

the sauna in it will drop the track temperature. The track temperature

is higher than we have seen all weekend. That is good news because

the tyres will come up quicker in the early laps but they will be in

unknown territory at the end when the tyres are really cooking.

is important. We are just past the middle of the season, everything to

play for. We are away! A good one from Dani Pedrosa, no surprise

there. Ben Spies is not bad off the line as well. It looks like it will

be Pedrosa, Spies hanging on to the outside, Lorenzo hanging on to the

outside in front of him, and Stoner on the inside in front of him. Down

the hill they go, Lorenzo goes past, Pedrosa first. Casey Stoner

actually getting a bit of a hang out by his team-mate, Dovizioso.

Lorenzo has the soft a front tyre. The world champion has taken the

lead at turn three, that was confident from him. Now to be

tricky pesky Number 10, it drops away here down the hill and these

are the negative camber corners, which are very difficult. Lorenzo

on his Yamaha is in front. Dovizioso not giving his team mate

any room to move. At the moment, Casey Stoner the third of the three

Hondas. It is Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Dovizioso, Stoner, Spies, then

Nicky Hayden, that will do. tremendous start from him on a

Ducati. You can see the white band on his front tyre, he has gone for

the softer compound tyre. Cal Crutchlow in the middle of the mix

in 13th place off the line. This is the 250 ft climb up to the final

across the strike, indeed he did, past Nicky Hayden who will have to

deal with the attentions of Valentino Rossi. Stoner has stuffed

his team mate, as he should do. he was making sure the temperatures

are all full study can't win the race in the first lap, but you can

sure as hell lose it. I don't know about getting temperatures up for

Casey Stoner, but his blood pressure will be up. These two

team-mates are having a great old ding-dong. Valentino Rossi is the

all weekend. He has been a class act, half a second faster than

anyone else. I am sure he is letting it get up to temperatures.

It is always different of course, racing is a different matter to

qualifying, 23 litres of fuel they are carrying. Sometimes the fight

will come back to you. Casey Stoner said the bike came back to it when

the fuel load when down in Laguna. It is about the championship, Casey

Stoner in third place with a 23 point advantage over the man who is

leading. From this is a great deal this first turn now. The big three

RN. How close do you like that?! He dropped a spot but that's nothing.

That will knock his confidence. am talking third gear corner, about

100 mph, and he lost the front end. He will now be waiting for that to

do it again. That was really how he held that that that sort of pace,

amazing. I don't believe it. And we have lost Dani Pedrosa,

unbelievably. We were talking about bad luck. He needs that like a

third armpit. He has had such trouble this year. Here is the

right hander. The front end washed out at turn four. Unfortunately his

legs are not quite long enough to show of the bike back up again but

it just washed out. Casey Stoner was lucky not to get taken out with

that as well. The smoke comes down and it is one of the corners that

rarely drops away. -- really drops away. Simoncelli is in the thick of

this and his body language says he wants to play. Dani Pedrosa has

crashed already, now all I can really let myself go.

Dare I say it, he will let his hair down and really go for it.

Simoncelli was almost the fastest man on the track last time and you

are riding with him - good luck. will be a wild ride from the number

58. He has had two pole position has, he was for the 250 world

champion in 2008, and he is very fast. I am he doesn't wear his bike

out because he doesn't have any laps. Casey Stoner meantime, if he

finishes in this order, he will bank an extra five points in his

lead against Jorge Lorenzo. With respect to Dovizioso, it is really

just about Lorenzo and Stoner. That is the shooting match. Honda will

look after him but I don't think he will be in the factory team next

year. He had a reasonably good season last year and had a two year

contract, was in the right place at the right time and got resigned. In

fairness to Casey Stoner, he would have preferred Dani Pedrosa been

right behind him. He would like another bike in between him and

Jorge Lorenzo, but the way Dovizioso is going, who knows?

Remember, he has the soft a front tyre and we saw him lose his front

end at turn one. It is a gamble but no one really knows what will work

because we haven't had these track temperatures this weekend before.

Casey Stoner needs to get his head down now. Dani Pedrosa has been the

man to beat all weekend, sadly he has beaten himself. Dani Pedrosa is

down, but it is Casey Stoner leading now. Ben Spies has are a

Dovizioso. This would keep Honda have become a wouldn't it? On the

inside of Jorge Lorenzo. His clear through so it is nice work on

Dovizioso. If he finishes like this, it is yet a done the three points -

- another three points. Then the organ is thinking I have chosen the

wrong tyre, that normally would not happen. The front tyre was a gamble.

An odd thing to do. It is, because everybody else chose a harder

compound. It was a strange thing to do but he had his reasons, they

know what they are up to in that team but clearly it does not seem

to be paying dividends at the moment. It paid dividends for about

one lap, then it got loose. Simoncelli is stalking. All arms

and legs, it looks like they should give him a bigger motorbike. But he

has pace. He is on the same times as Casey Stoner. Look at the crowd.

A lot here to cheer on Karel Abraham, who has got round Randy de

Puniet. On board with Lorenzo, is he losing time on the corners? If

his bike has not got a grip, that is where he will be losing time.

What a result it would be for this guy for start 0 no, Karel Abraham,

he is the home town hopeless this weekend. A lovely bloke, this has

probably been his worst round all year. Haven't we seen that before

with James Toseland, Cal Crutchlow... But who else did Matt

interview? He interviewed Dani Pedrosa, he is down, did the

interview anyone else? I would just sit carefully on your chair. I

think Jorge Lorenzo is feeling the effects of the softer front tyre.

Lap record is held by Jorge Lorenzo here in 2009, 1: 56.57. Albeit that

Dovizioso is third in the championship, but 40 points back.

He will not trouble the scorers for the end-of-year championship.

doubt it. You never really know, a lot of things can go wrong in

motorcycle racing so nothing is done until the final championship.

There is an awful lot left - Indianapolis in two weeks' time,

then Japan, Australia, Malaysia. is really inconvenient the Malaysia

round. You want to stay in Australia. I do. I wanted to talk

about John Hopkins - boy, I wish he was here and I am sure he does.

Look at that pace on a Suzuki. would have been a great fight

between those two. Similar times in the practice sessions so he would

have been there or thereabouts. Cal Crutchlow has just moved in front

of our breath. He has more speed than the qualifying indicated.

did I say? We are going to stop talking about people, interviewing

people. My goodness me. He was on the move, starting to pick up pace.

That is very like the Lorenzo moment, which he luckily saved.

is a third gear corner, down and out but he was up thankfully from

that. He just went past the commentary booth and that happened,

so what can you say? Karel Abraham knees to pick himself up, dust

himself down, lower his sights just a fraction. Because he made such a

good start. The score sheet shows he is 15th in the championship and

that is not his standard. There is no points for qualifying, just for

the final two laps. This man is doing a good job of it. He has

finished every race he started the season, apart from the one he got

knocked off on him round two. It was the Doctor who took him out in

the waiting room. He had a quick house call and that was the end of

it. Casey Stoner has won more races than anyone else. He won last time

out in the USA and is staring down the barrel of a win in the Czech

Republic. That his five wins so things looking good for them at the

moment. They are desperately keen to win this championship this year.

Everyone thought the Hondas would wipe the floor, they started

building their bikes earlier than anyone else but it didn't happen

saying to Lorenzo, you can do this the easy way or the hardware. --

are hard way. The Armagh has been with the sweetest looking bike on

the track all weekend. -- Yamaha. When you change your retire racier,

you often have to change your racing style. -- Europe Tyrer

the fastest lap we have seen. a belly full of fuel that is not

bad. Yamaha versus combat. -- Honda. Dovizioso tried to pull it back. He

could not do it. Maybe Jorge Lorenzo is just trying to rebuild

his confidence. That would have been asking her to him early in the

race. -- a real scare. Valentino Rossi starting to close down Ben

Spies. Spies is carrying an injury. This is all playing into the hands

of the man leading the race. The other three tripping themselves

over a little bit. Right in with Simoncelli. -- riding. There is

quite a bit of potential for a passing. But if you get it wrong...

The most critical point is getting a good ride out of the corner. The

difference in losing the front end and not losing is literally two

kilometres per hour. You are teetering on the point. These guys

are the best in the work. If somebody falls off, it means they

have just got it wrong by two kilometres. If you do have to it,

you get past. Although this is such a long track, it has got such a

short pit straight. It is hard to get a big drag. You have got to

work your way. This provides some remarkably close races. The longest

nearly was won by a Jorge Lorenzo... If Dovizioso gets through,

Simoncelli will be right behind him. Marco is having bad thoughts will

stop he wants to work his way past these guys. It is so important for

Simoncelli. Such an incredible talent. So brave, so tough. He has

had his head down in the last couple of races. Jorge Lorenzo said

the only thing in his helmet was his hair. I think it was Dani

Pedrosa who said that. That was a massive mistake. Too tight on the

entry to the corner. That was a case of getting in there, the bike

turning to early. Turner one has not going to be Jorge Lorenzo's

favoured corner. -- the first turn. Casey Stoner is lapping four-tenths

a lap faster at the moment. He announced at the weekend that he is

going to be having a child Shawky. He should keep his ear plugs Andy!

of his skin. -- Bautista. He is having a very good run. No doubt

that Ducati have made a leap forward. Valentino's last lap time

have a second behind Casey Stoner. These guys are holding each other

up Ablett. -- a little bit. looks to me like it is Lorenzo who

is holding the others. He is riding like Dani Pedrosa right. Not the

way you normally expect him to do it. This is more like the 1000 CD.

-- 1000 cc. Lorenzo has now reverted back to block writing. 20

points for second place could easily beat all the way back to

fourth. Afridi crucial seven points. He is really riding to stay in

touch in this Championship. Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Simoncelli... Nicky

Hayden is further away. Bailey armour is inside the top 10. --

Aoyama. He made that look quite easy. That starts to improve

Valentino Rossi's opportunity of getting these guys. If this keeps

swapping and swapping back again, and Rossi might be in touch.

Dovizioso will be having another little loch in a moment. Lorenzo

has got all sorts of issues. I just wonder if it is that front tyre?

was Lorenzo's mistake, not Simoncelli's move. It was almost

certainly Lorenzo's decision to take that. It was a wild gamble.

was a huge role of the dice. This will be a little carrot for Ben

podium? He has not had a podium. He has been close. He has ended on the

gravel track. He has also been closely jail! -- close to jail! He

has just got to get himself under control. He is due a podium. This

is great for Bautista, battling away with Valentino Rossi. Rossi's

last lap 58.2. Dovizioso, 58. Whatever Ducati have done, it is

starting to work on the racecourse. I think they are going in the right

direction. The good thing is they nowhere they're heading. -- then

is too rigid. It is not flexible. think we may see a change in

chassis before the end of the season. Honda will be bringing

their 2012 bike out tomorrow. As far as Suzuki is concerned, we are

waiting to hear what their plans are. We hope for an improved

performance from the Suzuki. Casey Stoner looking forward to riding

the 1000 again. I would say he would like to ride the bike he is

riding at the moment. He will be happy for everything to stay as it

is for the next five years. The potential move between the two

Italians. Dovizioso and Simoncelli. There is too much Marco to go

around. It does not get harry macro closer than that. -- any Klosir.

His elbows are close to the ground when he is standing up. He is a

very gangly lad. Legs Eleven. Simoncelli looking very good. He is

almost getting backed up by a Dovizioso. He has got to pick his

moment and make it clean. He is through Lorenzo. He will not catch

Casey Stoner. This is the potential for a Marco Simoncelli. He is

having a nightmare. The bike has clearly had enough. That is

possibly coming from the engine. The oil had probably got away from

the oil pickle. Simoncelli runs too deep and wide. His Simoncelli going

to say to himself, a podium is a podium? I suspect he will go for

second place. I do not think Rhys and is high on Islamist. He has got

lots of talent and enthusiasm. -- him. There is the gap. Casey Stoner

has been royally aided by the battle between Simoncelli and the

Visio so. -- Devitt CEOs so. There is lots of talk that Dovizioso will

be sent to a satellite team. He is fighting again -- against that. He

is being stalked by Simoncelli. Another man being stock is the

world champion. Casey Stoner has a lead of nearly seven seconds. Look

at that. The way he dances around on that motorcycle. Everybody

looking in admiration. Casey Stoner, the tyres looking good. Eight laps

Casey Stoner. I will be fascinated to hear if we can find anything out

what the theory was behind Lorenzo going for a soft front tyre. There

was not just a gamble for this race, he was in touch with the

championship leader. Casey Stoner will now put a monster gap between

himself and Lorenzo. It will be more than one race win's worth. It

is not over yet because the guys behind him are closing down.

This is when Lorenzo's tyre was at its very best. Often if you have

more grip, you have the confidence. In your head, the other guys will

be taking more time to warm up their tyres. Again, he used that

confidence around the outside, dived up the inside, taking the

lead early on but it didn't work. For and neither did it work for

poor Roald Dani Pedrosa, who Indianapolis just as fast and just

as smooth. Fortunately he didn't seem injured. It does look as

though with seven laps going at this stage that Simoncelli has

decided prudence is best and he has backed off a bit from Dovizioso.

Bautista has not backed off from the Doctor, he really wants it.

This is the first time we have seen them smiling in the garage all year,

I reckon. They don't know what that cardboard box was or what it had in

it but it worked. The Doctor is in the house. I don't believe it. Both

Mr crashed last year, didn't he? On the final lap. The engine is still

running, so get it picked up. not in a hurry to get back on the

bike. We talked about trailing the front brakes into the corner.

didn't want to let Valentino Rossi disappear, it is such a shame. The

front end just folded out and he would be trailing the break into

the corner. He knows. Bid was a classic example of how close it was.

There was nothing in that. When you are following someone, you think

why did that do it to me? But every bike has different settings and

everything else. Disappointment as he picks his bike up and goes back

in. If I was out there I would go back out. Meanwhile, this gap is

nearly eight seconds. Casey Stoner is having a beautiful smooth ride

here. Six laps remaining. The from three are all Hondas. Ben Spies is

only half a second behind Jorge Lorenzo, who has led this race at a

time. What was going on with that tyre choice? I just asked his team

manager why they went with that and he said because it was better, so I

gather he had a better feeling with it. They thought with the track

temperature the way it was today may did that, but he did admit they

need to start reconsidering now. They don't think this is just a

tyre issue. It is not effective. it seemed strange he was the only

person to do it. Normally if it is borderline a softer or hard at tyre,

others go for it. The only other person who chose the softer

compound was... Have a guess. Bautista, who'd just fell off.

saw Lorenzo struggling from the second lap. Ben Spies is closing

him down and carrying injuries. Simoncelli, on bike number 58 with

the fantastic red and white, easy to identify helmet. Do you reckon

he will have another go, or will he settle for third? The looking at

the way he is going at the moment and Dovizioso is going at the

moment, maybe we'll settle for third place. He is desperate for

podium, he does not want to do anything silly. I am more worried

about what Ben Spies is thinking about - do I dare pass Jorge

Lorenzo? That will be the quandary going through his mind at the

moment. He is in the same position Dovizioso would be in if he was up

the exhaust pipe of Casey Stoner. Realistically Jorge Lorenzo could,

in theory, lose five points here if Ben Spies gets past him, which

could be crucial at the end of the championship. One man nothing here

about anything is the Doctor there, Valentino Rossi. He is having a

nightmare season but he is one of the few riders out there who has

scored points in every round. They have been small points but he got

them anyway. He sits 5th in the championship and after this he will

leap Frog Dani Pedrosa back up to fourth in the championship. The

statistics look better than the raising he has had. A couple of

Americans battling it out, never discount Colin Edwards. You would

be hard place to fill his shoes with anyone better or faster.

great each-way bet. If he went into Superbikes, I bet he would win it.

I Hiroshi I has had a challenging raised false start -- challenging

at what Valentino Rossi is doing. Everyone who signed for Ducatis

teams this year were hoping the bikes would be sorted out. It has

taken longer than they thought. Let's have a look at the Ducatis

roll of honour. Rossi is in sixth, Hayden in seventh, Barbera intent.

De Puniet in Twelfth, and Capirossi in the 13th. 220 brake horsepower.

I just love watching the movement and how he dances around on the

motorcycle. Slamming it down into the ground. The front tyre still

looking pretty good, everything looking pretty good. They are all

thinking it is looking pretty good but anything can happen. Cloud

cover is heavier, keeping the track cool. Man, what did I just say it?!

He will clearly no, nearly eight seconds in front, you can afford to

back off a little bit. We have all made silly mistakes sometimes when

you are not really focused. Have a look at this. That was turn one

again, a pretty fast corner. There is the external view. Inside of the

kerb. What happens when you are going into the corner, if the back

end of the bike comes round it points you to the inside of the

corner and it can catch you out a little bit, which it did just learn.

-- just then. Casey Stoner can keep his focus. As you were saying,

nearly eight seconds ahead of of is 11 seconds back from the winner,

but only five seconds back on Dovizioso, so five seconds of

second place in the race at the moment. Last time out we saw.

Forget where he finished on the track, 30 seconds down the road

almost, so this is a massive improvement. You couldn't keep

success away from JB and the rest of those guys forever, they will be

chipping away. No matter where Valentino Rossi finishes this year,

he and his team will leave that Ducati a better bike than they

found. That is a nice sign for Simoncelli, still on board in third

place and still looking all right. As far as the Ducati team are

concerned, that is not just about winning for the sponsors but it is

about making a motorcycle other people want to get on to. Until

recently would be worried. I know which bike I would choose.

Ducatis have had some very clever riders, like Melandri who nearly

killed his career. Casey Stoner is the only one with whom it has

clicked. He is the only one who has harnessed it. He came third here

last year, qualified for and came third, and he was winning races on

a Ducati at the end of last year, the same Ducatis Valentino Rossi

jumped on in the practice after the last race in Valencia and came

almost last on. It is horses for courses, I guess. When you get to

this stage, I am sure he will be able to cling in there, but Ben

Spies is now running into position. The gap between Simoncelli and

Lorenzo is reasonably comfortable and Lorenzo would be a big man to

try to muscle his way back past Lorenzo. A good ride from Dovizioso,

albeit eight seconds back from his team-mate. Nevertheless, in front

of the current world champion, Jorge Lorenzo. Look at the focus.

He grabs a bitter throttle and it is just about backing it off,

tapping it back on again, trying to get the power down as quick as you

can. The last lap now for Casey Stoner, he can ride hands and heels

to home from here, it should be nice and easy. Simoncelli is

staring down the barrel of his first podium, and I reckon it could

be the making of him. I agree. A very mature ride we have seen from

what a lot of people have said is a very immature man, but getting the

monkey off his back and on to the podium will be great for him.

Simoncelli did not finish in Portugal, in Great Britain, in the

United States. He needs to finish here. He needs to finish here and a

podium would be good. He has had the pace, had pole positions, he is

always at the top of the time sheets and his race results did not

reflect his speed. This will be Casey Stoner's 29th MotoGP win.

Honda will be pleased they signed him. He said he always wanted to

replicate his hero. It was much more a case of Ducatis losing him

than Honda stealing him. Yes, he was not impressed with the way,

when he was ill, he didn't feel they were supporting him enough and

he started looking round. Honda took him along, they knew his

talent because he previously worked for Ducati and now look at how fast

hears. Dovizioso, faster than this guy on its last lap of course

because he has Button it down, but Casey Stoner has done the job in

the Czech Republic. You bet he has! Casey Stoner wins in Brno.

Dovizioso in second, and Marco Simoncelli is on the podium.

will dwarf everyone else on the podium. Valentino Rossi will be

very pleased, 12 seconds back, the closest he has been. Marco

Simoncelli's handlers will be in the pit lane to put him back in his

years ago. Doesn't time fly? There is a man who will have a nice

weekend off next weekend before going to Indianapolis. The

Championship is looking even better for him. Stoner gets 25 points. 13

to Lorenzo. And Steve Parrish will be up all night every night working

on those graphics! A huge sigh of relief for her Stoner. The barriers

at huge step change. Psychologically. -- that is a huge

step change. Yes. If you make as big a mistake with a lead like that,

it is not as big a penalty. would rather nobody else on the

grid had a motorbike what you! Last stop and think. Valentino Rossi

finishing 6th. 12 seconds adrift. The best he has done all year.

18 second step change is a monster. Absolutely. Valentino Rossi has

leapfrogged Dani Pedrosa. He is now in fourth place. Marco Simoncelli

has moved up two places to eighth. Casey Stoner sits on a 218 points.

The rain so, 186. They will be an interesting debrief in the Yamaha

or garage. -- there will be. Simoncelli, Aliadiere! --

think twice about his strategy. It can go exactly the other way next

time around. Colin Edwards finishing 8th. He just keeps on

keeping on. He is 9th in the Championship. Just behind

Simoncelli. What do you make of it? What was Lorenzo on about?

clearly choose the tyre that he thought was the right one. I

suspect it have to do with the track temperature are increasing.

It caught him out. He and Bautista were the only two who went for the

soft tyre. Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi having a chat.

Spare a thought for about Easter who was chasing Rossi Harrad until

An interested spectator. What did you make of it? It was a

disappointment to not be out there. The potential of the bike is really

good. It was a disappointment to see Alvaro Bautista a fall out of

where he was that. More solar disappointment that I was not there.

I cannot believe I was not racing because of broken fingers. It is

only a minor setback. Right now, the main priority is getting fixed

and getting back on the bike in British Superbike. It must a giving

you a boost to see Alvaro Bautista's performance. Yes,

definitely. Suzuki has the potential to be in the top six

pretty consistently. To see him crash out was a big shame. Right

now is a crucial time for the manufacturers of Suzuki. The bike

should be out there. They should be continuing the development for 2012.

It is a shame. But I think the potential was shown by Suzuki this

weekend for sure. The winner, Casey Congratulations. Another weekend.

Yes, to come back from two weekends, we are not looking too strong.

Things were looking tough. As soon as the race got under way, and had

a battle with andrecht -- I had a battle with Andrea Dovizioso. I got

past Jorge Lorenzo. I tried to cut as many laps as I could down quite

fast. We pulled something nicely very quickly. After such a hard

weekend, this was probably more Back-to-back wins for Casey Stoner.

He extends his lead at the top of the Championship. We were surprised

at the pace he put out there? definitely. He made it happen in a

Laguna Seca and he made it happen here. You can never count him out.

Him and that bike is a really good match. I just could not believe

that Dani Pedrosa did not pull it off. I didn't expect him to crash

like that. When he gets into the lead, that is when he gets more

confident. Do you think the tyre choice was Jorge Lorenzo's problem?

Yes, I think so. I tried the harder tyre on Friday. I was losing the

front. In these conditions I would have gambled for the harbour front

tyre. -- harder. I would have done with the hard one. Dani Pedrosa did

go with it. We will try to find out about his choice later. The biggest

smile as got to belong to Marco Simoncelli. It has been a long time

coming. Finally you first MotoGP podium? Yes, I wait for a long time

this result. I am really happy. I want to say thanks to my team and

to Honda. We had a lot of difficult moments. We never stopped to

believe that I could do it. I am happy. In the last lap, nothing

happened. Everything remained in that condition. I am very happy.

The biggest smile in Brno. What a character. Definitely. He has

definitely come into his own this year. He has had a few struggles.

He has definitely proved he does errors a bike at the front. -- he

deserves. He writes the bike extremely well. It is harder for

him to ride that bike and it is for Dani Pedrosa or or Casey Stoner.

The Honda is one of the smaller bikes on the grid. For him to be

sitting on it and riding it so well, is awesome. I think he would get a

little more speed Iffy cut the hair! One guy who fix on on the

perfectly is the Dani Pedrosa or. - - fix on at that bike perfectly.

is one of those things. You just gamble on it. It is unfortunate. I

would say he deserved the win with the way he has been riding all

weekend. At the end of the day it his the first one who gets the

chequered flag. Casey is the one with the consistency right now. He

is doing the job. He is trying to get that a Championship. When it

comes to consistency, he might not be showing Championship pace, but

Andrea Dovizioso is certainly consistent. Congratulations on

another solid podium? Yes. We started in seventh. We worked

really hard. Friday and Saturday. We are having the race very

competent. I made a really good start. I want to say thank you to

the team. We are struggling a lot on Friday and Saturday but we

worked really hard. I tried to manage Simoncelli in the last few

laps. I tried to push him on. He could not stay with me. Really

That is crucial. He cuts the gap to Jorge Lorenzo having managed to

manage Simoncelli! Can you imagine the sight of that bear down I knew?

I am sure he would be cooler with his hair cut. Can he win a world

title? I think he can. I am sure you will be a champion of the

future. He is still a young kid. He has got the speed. He has to calm

things down. Cannae get a win before the end of the season? Se

can. -- can he. He may come right at the end. The problem he has got

is that he has got to get past the other Honda bikes. He has got to

play the politics very well, Marco. It is a strange podium here. It is

a strange circuit. Great natural amphitheatres. A few rickety stands.

I stood on that podium myself and managed to shake Shum -- spray some

champagne on second spot. On Friday I ended up going six-tenths quicker

than I did in 2007 on my fastest lap. The first podium for Marco,

the first of many? Definitely. He has proved the talent he has. He

has got some speed. He will be at the front quite consistently.

we see you again before the end of the Year? I certainly hope so.

British Superbike has got my main focus. Charlie says he hopes it

sold two. Find you for being here. -- thank you. The riders on the