Round 13 - Misano MotoGP

The 5th over the past few years, Misano has begun a Mayor Ken for

the two factions of Italian fans. - - Mecca. Today was the day that

they were supposed to join together, but it has been a nightmare for the

Italian Dream Team. Instead, it is on that and a certain Australian

who have taken control. Just seven days ago, they strengthened their

grip on the championship. The new circuit at Indianapolis from that

lot of controversy, but Casey Stoner coped best with the slippery

conditions. He got into this groove over the earlier laps and once he

had overtaken Dani Pedrosa, he just got faster and faster. Ben Spies

was the only rider looked like matching his pace in practice, but

a disastrous start spoiled any chances of a home win. He did but

on a show of the home crowd, fighting back from ninth to the

podium at taking a few precious championship points from Lorenzo,

over the reigning champion. There is an interesting battle for fought

between Pedrosa, Ben Spies, and if you are a real optimists, Valentino

Three wins on the bounce for Casey Stoner, and despite the brilliance

and dominance of his win at Indianapolis, it was the first time

he had been on the podium at that circuit, the only circuit left on

his list. Great stuff for Casey Stoner, and he is going to speak to

us now, just making his final preparations inside the truck.

You're making a final preparations before you go out, take us through

it. You have got your flight case from Indianapolis, plenty of

luggage to carry. Yes, definitely, we have it take all the suits. When

you have a few consecutive flyweight races, you have to make

sure that you have plenty of gear to take with you. It ends up being

a little bit heavy, and the team has got to take all their stuff,

there is a lot to carry around. much going wrong for you at the

moment, three wins on the bounce, your first podium at Indianapolis,

going well. It has been a really good season for us. There are a few

things we would have liked to have done better, a few podiums that we

could have done better, but you learn from those, and that is why

we have been able to get the amount of wins that we have, you keep

moving forward, and it is going to be another tough race today.

talked to were Jorge Lorenzo before the race in Germany, he was racing

to Phil Collins on his high pard! Anything like you to get into the

zone? I cannot do anything. I have seen two other riders listening to

music. I do not need that. I figure, you know, when you go out there,

you should know what you are doing, I know how to get myself ready. A

lot of riders do different things to prepare for the race, but I do

nothing like that. Just stay inside here and tickle, it is a hot one

today. It is going to be very hot. Hopefully we have prepared well

enough. Thank you for letting us in, good luck today. Casey is setting

the headlines at the top of the field, but there is plenty going on

further back. There has been a lot of talk in the paddock recently

about the future of Loris Capirossi, but after 22 years, three world

titles and 99 podiums, the veteran rider had a very special and rather

emotional announcement to make this This is, for sure, my last race in

Italy, because I have decided to stop and retire. Also, it is

strange to listen to many riders talking about testing the new bike,

Anyway, I... I want to say sorry about my emotion, but it is not so

easy to say that. But I was thinking a lot about stopping.

Always I say yes, no, yes, no, but I think it is the right decision. I

want to say thank you to everybody who has supported me and tried to

give to me a good time, and I try any way to give my best in the last

couple of races. Thank you to What a guy. Loris Capirossi,

understandably emotional. He is all smiles now, getting ready for his

last ever race on Italian soil. As you can imagine, it has been a busy

weekend for him here, everybody wanting a piece of Loris Capirossi,

but he is such a gentleman that he took time out last night to have a

Well, Loris, here we are at Misano on the eve of your final race on

Italian soil. How does it feel that you have got it all out in the

opening? I Ms Mugello this year, I am here in Misano, and for sure

this is my last race in Italy. It is also the race of my career.

Anyway, it is so strange, because I have passed all my life in racing.

I started when I was four years old, now I am 38, I never stopped, 22

seasons in MotoGP, world champion. Anyway, I am happy to have made the

decision. It was the perfect place to make the decision here at Misano,

because that podium was your first podium in 1990. Yes, well, I have

good memories of the track, because, you know, I do my first podium in

the world championship for Ben. It Were you tempted by the possibility

of moving to Superbikes? There must have been of us for you. Yes, I

received offers to ride other bikes. Also, to go to Superbikes. But I

have had all my ideas in a championship, to move on at that

time, always I say to myself, when I stop, I want to stop in MotoGP.

And this is the right time to say And they gave you an engine this

weekend as well. A nice surprise. It is a great present, I did not

expect that. I saw the engine in the hospitality, it is beautiful,

and I'm really happy about that. I think I'll put it inside of my

I am thinking, anyway, I am a really lucky guy, because in 22

seasons I have been three times world champion. 1993, 1994, I had

problems with my aggression, minus X. 1996, I did not say I lose that,

but I had a chance to gain another title in MotoGP. But I am anyway

have peoples of no regrets? No. I am a lucky guy because I ride all

kind of bikes, 125, 250, 500, 800, 1,000, Suzuka, Yamaha, Honda!

have had a great career, it has been a pleasure talking to you,

thank you. Thank you very much, great for me, thank you. It really

has been a pleasure, and how fitting that his team manager from

his first ever premier class victory on a 500 cc Yamaha back in

1996 is here as well. For very different reasons, it has been a

poignant weekend for another true And Eric and legend Wayne Rainey,

who dominated the sport in the early 90s, with some of the

greatest epic battles we have ever seen against any loss in, make do

and, on those fire-breathing 500 cc two-stroke machines. Tragically,

his career ended right here in Misano in 1993. Quite remarkably,

he has returned for the first time. Wayne, 18 years ago here at Misano,

your life changed dramatically. What does it feel like being back?

Well, it is much different than I anticipated, Steve. I thought I

would be more emotional, showing up and not been here for that long,

and considering my history here, but it has been wonderful, I have

had a great time. As a rider myself, with all said, it is your worst

nightmare, what happens to you. Were you going, why me? I have been

waiting motorcycles for 25 years. I have had my accidents and broken

bones, like every other racer, but I also saw some really good friends

of mine that did not make it to the end of the year wall ended up in a

chair. So this is the sport that I chose to compete in, and I know it

was dangerous. I knew that something like this for West could

happen, but when you race, you never really think about those

things. You try to do the best you can. How it ends up is how it is.

This track has changed dramatically, running the opposite way around. It

is much safer. Is there still more to be done on the saved his sight

in motorcycling? I don't know, Steve. When I raised here, I

thought personally, riding the Grand Prix bikes, I thought this

circuit was perfect for those bikes. A challenge, big fast corners, very

exciting to drive. The exhilaration you got from this track on those

bikes, you could not emulate it anywhere else. After my accident,

they did not race here for a long time, and when they did come back,

they changed the direction. So it was just... I thought they ruined

it. I do not think it was too dangerous before, but I have not

looked at it lately. I only see it from watching on television, so I

am not sure. Loris Capirossi was racing when you are, and he has

announced his retirement. I cannot believe how long his career has

gone on for. It has to come to an end at some point or start I saw

him last night, and he has been doing it for 22 years. That is an

amazing career. I think it is wonderful that he has been able to

announce its and prepare for the end that is going to come real

quick for him. Congratulations to them. Wayne, thank you for talking

to us. You have been an inspiration to World Championship riders.

you, Steve. I could not agree more with that.

Remarkable to hear him so candid about what happened to him. Is a

very, very brave man, and we talk about the ultimate price, but that

comes very close. There is no question about it. He has taken it

very pragmatically, and easily is a very enjoyable life. He follows the

sport very much from home, and it was a pleasure to talk to him.

about the other legend we were talking about, Loris Capirossi? You

have had the pleasure of commentating on some epic races

with him. Isn't it astonishing to think that he won his first world

championship in 1990? Three world titles. A huge country be there,

and he played a huge part in Ducati's early success. -- and

better. I was still in junior school then! The leaves us,

retiring at the end of the season. That leaves Colin Edwards at the

last standing veteran racer, and he will be back with us next year. He

has joined the CRT team, that was announced at a press conference on

Thursday. The Texas tornado will be back with us. CRT teams, that is

not something we have discussed very much this year so far. Tell us

about it. It looks very exciting. Colin Edwards has gone to a team

that seems to be very well-funded. He seems to have squeezed some

Yamaha Superbike engines out, because they are not running a

Superbike team next year. Good engines, good electronics. His time

to get the Tech 3 team to build a chassis, and we know how well that

is going. They are allowed more fuel than the factory teams, 24

leaders as opposed to 21. They are allowed 12 engines as opposed to

six. Some of the rules and regulations are relaxed, and that

should help them get nearer to the I heard there was 24 litres of beer

as well. That was part of the deal... Don't mention that with

Charlie still here! We've spoken at Indianapolis about the problems

that Ducati have had. The clouds have come over now and this is

probably their best chance. It was as hot as Sydney springtime an hour

ago, when you were talking to Casey. It was scorching hot. There was

talk of rain. It feels thundery. The only shot these punters will

have of seeing Rossi. They won't mind being rained on if Rossi can

get out there. Jeremy Burgess said we usually pull a rabbit out of the

hat on race day but we haven't found the rabbit yet. It is a rain

hat, mate. It is going to be interesting to see if they have to

switch to ewet tyres. They are going out of the starting lap on

wet tyres, that could be the case today. If it is a real challenge

for the riders, physically, but two other matters for the team to take

into account are fuel consumption and brakes.

The reason it's hard on brakes here at Misano is simply because you are

always down to first gear, back up to fourth, on the brakes, off the

brakes. What the teams do to fix that is use these, the full-mask

disks. It dissipates the heat. These are running at 5 00 degrees.

On a circuit that's not as hard on brakes you can use one of these. It

is much lighter, so you have less gyroscopic effect. The fuel is a

harder issue. This circuit for the same reason, up and down through

the gears, full threatle, not in top year for long, you use the fuel

up a lot. It is like driving in town as opposed to the motorway.

Last year Valentino Rossi never made it to the podium. He ran out

on the slowdown lap. So regulations state just 21 litres of fuel.

That's about 4.6 gallons in old money. One of the tricks of the

trade to get a bit more fuel this is to get it cold. It makes it

denser and gives you about a quarter of a litre. Did you that,

not hi-tech. Put the fuel in a freezer. Get it really cold before

you tip it into the bike before the start of a race. You must not have

it 15 degrees below ambient temperature or you get busted by

the organisers. It is 0.7 litre per lap.

All that, nice and cold, ends up going into this tank. The 21 litres,

they don't measure that. They weigh it and then the whole lot ends up

in the fuel tank. The engineers work really Lord to

set the bike unfor good rear grip, as wheel spin wastes fuel. The

electronics are set to make the bike run as slim as possible. Dani

Pedrosa is nice and light, but he's not that big either.

Alvaro Bautista is one of the smaller riders on the grirbgsd just

5'5" and just over -- on the grid, just 5'5" and just 9 stone.

At least the teams can ramp up the power for one fast lap in

qualifying. Here's how they got on. Randy De Puniet was one spot behind

Cal Crutchlow, who scuffed his leathers. At the pointy end as

Charlie would probably say Jorge Lorenzo was on pole.

Lorenzo and Pedrosa had a quarter of an hour to fight back but all

Not the qualifying session that Loris would have wanted. There he

is on the back roe of the grid. He's all smiles. I think he's going

to plan on enjoying himself, and who could blame him. Cal Crutchlow,

a winner in 2009. He set the lap record in the world superbikes in

2004. We are going to try to grab a word with him in a second. A little

bit of consternation here on the grid because a few spots of rain

have fallen. Even though he is in 13th place he was only 0.8 of a

second. Over to Azi. From Ben Spies to Nicky Hayden in 15th there is

only a second, but from Ben to the front three will's over half a

second. I'm going to try to get a word with Ben but he's talking to

his team. Ben, the front three, there's half a second between you.

Do you think you can catch him? is going to be tough. We are

looking at a lot of different conditions right now. We went with

a completely different set-up. We haven't raced all weekend on. We

are trying to find something. It looks like it could mist or rain at

any time during this race, so it's a little stressful but it's the

same for everybody. What have you been struggling with so much this

weekend? Just the front end of the bike and getting it where I'm

confident with it. Right now I don't quite have the confidence in

it. It's been a problem all weekend. All we can do is the best. We'll

give it 100% and we'll see what the conditions are like. Thank you Ben,

good luck. Ben Spies there. Just 0.8% of a second quicker than Cal.

A woopsy there on qualifying but other than that you were pretty

much on the pace. It seems that we found something in the second free

practise. Pre-practise and qualifying was OK up until the

point where it came to put the fast lap in. We only had a 25-lap front

tyre and a brand-new rear. We should have put a new front soft in,

but it's one of them things. We learn from the mistakes. Hopefully

the race will go a lot better for us. We are confident of a top ten,

if we get a good start. We'll see if we can make some ground. The

bike isn't so fast. A couple of spots, would you be happy with

that? No, it won't rain. You heard it here first. MotoGP ridered and

weatherman, you heard it. Colin Edwards... Sorry, that was

Loris. Calling time on his Tech 3 Yamaha career. Colin, obviously we

saw earlier that you decided to make the move to a CRT team next

year, but you are determined to finish with a high with Yamaha on

the pace here. Yeah, I finished I may as well do I job. It's been

going good. I can't complain.. We had a set-up issue on Friday but we

changed the bike a little bit and got going good. Now we've got to

top it off. I don't normally say this, but look between Colin's legs.

They use this reflective material to keep the temperature off the

fuel tank. Steve was telling you how important it's so keep the fuel

at as loi a temperature as possible. low. Alvaro Bautista, a new paint

job for the Suzuki. What an sawsome paint job that is. That might cost

you a few quid to get a replica. The hunt for podium positions, as

it looks like it will be a three- way ballot at the front. We are

here with Wilco. It is tight at the front. Only three tenths between

the front three. How did you see this going? It is a very important

moment in the Championship. You know you see the weather as well.

It is not very stable. It can rain. Misano raining, I'm not sure if you

remember a few years ago, they cansled the race. But to come back

to yesterday's qualifying, it was a great job. He is close to Casey. We

should keep our chances open for this year's Championship and we

should be beating him this race. I don't say it is everything or

nothing but if Casey wins here, we should try something here.

mentioned the weather. We are feeling a few drops of rain now as

we speak. That's really going to mess things up a bit. Yes. For sure.

It is a flag -to-flag race. If it starts raining it will be a gamble

for everybody. Thank you. Good luck. Hector Barbera, before you put your

helmet on, top Ducati on the grid. You seemed to be comfortable the

last few races, you are finding good form. Yes, I'm happy. It is

important for me and my team. I like this track. I think for me

this race, the possibility of a good race. Thank you. All the best.

Battling with Alvaro Bautista, just behind us, for the 250cc win in

2009, and taking that victory. It could be an all-Spanish battle.

Hector crashed out at Indy so he is hoping to catch up this weekend.

Andrea Dovizioso is in 6th place. He's been on the second row ten

times this year. Marco Simoncelli in 5th. A best result of 6th in the

250cc class in 2008. Ben Spies, looking for back to back podiums

for the first time in his MotoGP after his excellent race. Last

year's winner here at Misano, Jorge Lorenzo. Second here for the last

three years. Really needs to go one better if he is to close the

advantage that Casey Stoner has over him at the top of the

Championship. And Stoner himself looking for his first run of four

wins back to back in his MotoGP career. Steve, Charlie, for one

reason or another it looks as though we are going to have a

really memorable race here. Absolutely buddy. It looks like

they really could close together. must apologise for my nuisance

phone call friend behind me, with his croaky voice. I hope you can

get through it. I will try. It was our flight back from Indianapolis.

It is like going to a germ swap meet. I don't know what I picked um.

Dani Pedrosa has had serious pace round here. Could be the one to

watch. Marco Simoncelli in second row.

When was the last time Nicky Hayden got through the chicane? I don't

think he ever has. We go downhill with the circuit running in the

reverse direction, with the chicane. Loris Capirossi starting his last

race hire at the back. A difficult time on that Ducati, as have so

many riders. Stoner, what is he going to do is Dani Pedrosa bolts?

You would still bet your money that Danny would be the first guy into

the corner. 16 corners around the circuit and he is normally the dart

off the line. We've spoken about fuel a great deal. They will want

to make sure that tyres are up, the brake temperatures are up, but I

can't imagine anyone making fast speak, with everyone changing their

bikes. The spare bikes, they'll be frantically putting them to wet

settings. Let's reprise the flag to flag rules, in case you are are not

a MotoGP regular. It is important. These guys can swap bikes. They

will be changed to wet settings, with wet tyres on, wet front

springs, rear springs, steel disks. Needs a bit more rain than we've

got now to warrant it. With the track temperature so high, the rain

dissipates as it hits it, so it needs a fair old shower before they

would warrant do that. It would be interesting to see. That's an

aerial view of the corner. The run back up the hill. Down to the

incredibly fast and scary occur volcanoy corner.

will really tip the scales. Everyone has gone for the same

tyres, the softer of the two on the rear tyre, hard at the front. No

gambles this weekend. Apart from the weather! Fingers crossed on

that, revs up, we are ready for the start in San Marino. It looks like

Lorenzo went pretty quickly and Simoncelli as well, not a bad job.

Ben Spies on the outside, Lorenzo having a look, that is very tight,

very firm between Lorenzo and stone all about bravery, nobody knows how

much rain is on the track. It is a gamble on the grip. The word from

the pit lane is that it is probably raining. They will be tiptoeing

around, and the difficult job is reading it. Jorge Lorenzo is the

world champion, and he knows he needs to win some races. That is

the black this say it is raining. Looking out of the commentary booth,

they are frantically trying to get those wheels and springs and

everything, geometry changed and the spare bikes just in case they

can then nice and early. Valentino Rossi is on a charge. He started

outside the top 10, but is now inside the top six can and he is on

and. If it rains... It is raining, the flag is being waved. The

forecast was for some rain here. Those curbs will be slippery. I do

not know if I want to watch. might be a lousy weather forecaster,

but if he got it wrong and it rains, he should be in with a good shout.

It takes them about 10 minutes to get all the changes done to those

bags. Still, Jorge Lorenzo Ltd, Casey Stoner and his exhaust pipe.

-- Leeds. Jorge Lorenzo, head down, Palmer across the straits, 1:28.

Look at Valentino Rossi, he is the row. The crowd are all dressed in

yellow with his home just being have the road. It will be tricky.

The good thing at the moment is the track is so warm. Having a bit of a

shower will not be too bad, but it is easy for me to say that sitting

here. It is about who dares go in these conditions. At the moment it

is Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa or... Look at that, mate! Having a big

bloke, Lorenzo had to come up. Casey Stoner will be worried that

Lorenzo is going to back this up and make Pedrosa a problem. He has

got a trilogy of Hondas behind him. That is the first on trying to get

through, then Valentino Rossi, you heard it right, top six for Rossi.

He is in the five at the moment as they go back up the hill. -- P5.

is the only chance he has got in these conditions are getting that

Ducati anywhere near the front, but Jorge Lorenzo is the man who was

having to tread carefully, looking for the grip. He will not know how

fast or slow to go. Simoncelli at the inside. When you say tyre

tracks, that is when you know it is getting awkward. If you see that in

the water, that is the first indication. The other indication of

someone falling off in front of you! Screaming past the commentary

box, Casey Stoner having a look. Is he brave enough on the brakes? The

dots of rain on the visor will slow you are. Fastest lap of 35.74 Casey

Stoner, then a 35.54 Valentino Rossi. How about that! Not bad time

is considering the rain on the visor. Even if it is not causing

any traction problems, 35 is not bad, bearing in mind 1:34 would be

a good race time in perfect Stoner trying to find a way past,

very tight at the top. One second covers the top five, including Mr

Valentino Rossi. You are riding with Casey Stoner. He is looking

all the time. I do not think he will be in a rush to do anything. I

think the rain is stopping, which is good news. It seems like it is

abating a touch. When the track gets dry, I think you'll see number

27 going through. He has got good grip, Casey Stoner. At the moment,

Lorenzo is a good litmus, let him go first and see what comes up, as

long as he is not compromised by pretty clear now. And they are

using the painful start that is always a sign that there is not

much rate at that. That gets slippery first. I think it is

completely dry. 34.519, Jorge Lorenzo, so we are no money. Oh, no,

that is Nicky Hayden! He was having a dog day weekend anyhow. The

qualified 15th and has gone from bad to worse. I do not think he has

ever finished a race here. It is a weekend he will want to forget.

Nicky Hayden, it is not running for him this season. Capirossi has come

into the pits. Is he going to change bikes? No, he has got a

problem. The chain is perhaps jumping, spinning out. I cannot

think there's any point going out on wet tyres, it is too dry for

that. It is an ignominious end to his day, when you think of is big

news, his retirement after 22 seasons. Last race in Italy, mate.

Fruit and one day, up the hill. Lorenzo is getting his head down. -

- through Tramanto. Talk about a recovery, you will find pace. --

you did say his race pace was better than his qualifying pace.

will not take long to dry because of the tentative. The Ducati

President will be quite pleased with this, they want to be higher

up, but Valentino Rossi is only 1.8 seconds back from the leader, Jorge

Lorenzo. It is starting to settle down now. As they come across this

drive, he took three-tenths out of Casey Stoner that time around, that

is impressive. I think Casey Stoner has got the pace once he has

decided the track is in perfect conditions. That is a great time,

lap record of 1:34.340. That is a new macro -- new lap record here.

They are still points to be had, Capirossi is coming out.

Crutchlow inside the top 10, he is behind parties that. Good

qualifying for the Suzuka. They are battling it out further down. It is

already developing into the Lorenzo, but I cannot imagine he

will run a faster pace than Casey Stoner. -- the fastest so far. One

of the issues that they have, and it is the same for everyone, after

the previous race, the track tends to change, rather has gone down

from the Dunlop tyres, which is not always... That was close, nearly a

mistake! The track does change from the warm-up. Do you do not want to

do that here, Simoncelli, if you take out a national hero, they will

kill you! He just slips past the Doctor in a reasonably easy fashion.

It was a heart move, but he has got to do it. I think he feels he has

the pace. The San Carlo team, it is their anniversary, 75 years in

business, that is what that is all very polite. What will the crowd be

doing? I know who would be burned alive! Him! I can tell you from the

pit lane that they did put a new chain on Capirossi's bike. He is

circulating again. How hard is Lorenzo working, that will be

is giving Casey Stoner has behind. He is pushing it. Casey Stoner has

the pace. He has set a new lap record. You can say how much he has

closed on Jorge Lorenzo. There are a few places to pass on this track,

it is all about carrying pace. See how much stability he has on the

front end of the Honda. I suspect Casey will probably be getting a

run at either into turn one or maybe in to turn a. Well, he has

got that rows out of his hair for the moment. What was the story with

Floris? They were frantically changing the train. There was a

problem at the start with the chain, so they have taken it hard the

second fight and put it on the first, and he has gone back out on

that. Through a bad way to end your last race in MotoGP ethos Barth the

might still need that spare bikes Nicky Hayden has had it happen.

Anyway, as she just said, not good news for Loris Capirossi. He is

back out on the track. When not if, Stoner passing Lorenzo, and

Simoncelli all over the back of Dovizioso. There is always a

situation where I do not think Dani Pedrosa will be dropped by this

bunch. Such a lovely guy, it just does not happen for him. I do not

was not even running to pick it up. In some ways, he probably believed

it was over. OK, this is the part are the track where it tightens and

tightens. It must be so difficult. Just grinding that front tyre out.

Yes, in the old order, it was obviously designed to open up and

throw you down the back. It must have been great fun. Three are the

greatest corner as ever, but now it is running the other way. They had

to change the circuit around for safety reasons. They decided that

they could not get enough run-off areas in the other direction

because of the motorway that runs parallel with the straight, 11, 12

and 13, anyway. The traffic management over motor-racing. This

is the other when not if, what you reckon? Simoncelli is all over him.

Is chasing his countryman. Have a listen. Nor are chasing, he is

through. These are old protagonists from the 250 year, they used to

knock spots are the jug of. Dovizioso looking for a job now, he

has been told that he will not be in the factory squad. I do not

think is going to be able to stay with a factory team. He is looking

everywhere. Somebody from Honda told me they would rather he went

to Ducati because they want and it seems to have great riders. They

have the budget but not to pay him as a full factory rider. They have

an embarrassment of riches in terms of riders. Dani Pedrosa a, a slight

gap from these two. Seeing all the road and more, Jorge Lorenzo on the

blue Yamaha. We talked about this yesterday, the sweet handling

nature of the Yamaha would favour it around the thirdly parts of this

track. I have had a long chat with Jorge this weekend, and he says

there is not a lot wrong with the Yamaha but the Honda is so

brilliant. It is not about power, it is about putting it altogether.

It is not just the motorcycle. That man, 27, the Australian, Casey

Stoner, is some kind of motorcycle rider, not taking anything away

from Jorge Lorenzo. He has to be the fastest man in the world at the

Valentino at the pointy end, as we get a replay... That is how much it

is working, sliding at the front and at the rear, look at the heat

haze, 230 brake horsepower, the exhaust gases fired at the back. We

talk about Casey Stoner, he has a 44 point advantage, but thankfully

for Valentino Rossi, he would probably have had another 25.

have got a championship still alive courtesy of Valentino taking out

Casey Stoner, who looked good for the points in Spain, if not the

winner. Those are the lap times. Pedrosa or is 1.2 seconds behind

your race leader. I thought he would be closing its down. It is

fairly clear that Casey Stoner is being hampered. We talked about

lots of lines, but there is one of the online to pass someone like

Jorge Lorenzo. He is inch-perfect thinking there's just the two of us,

if I follow him a while and he punches a hole in the air, it helps

my fuel consumption. All these bikes, the Yamaha and the Honda and

Suzuki, they have a management system. The management know if they

are using too much fuel and it is not going to finish the race. Let's

watch the start. A pretty good start for both. There is nothing

more daunting than charging off the line and getting grit on vour visor.

Nicky Hayden had a bit of wheel spin off the line. That helmet, it

is a cartoon of, "Oh, my goodness me" I think he is saying. Look at

Rossi going round the outside of Alvaro Bautista. He scooped them up.

Like shooting fish in a barrel through the first couple of turns

for him. Up the hill. Different lines from

both of them. Overclubbing it, Lorenzo, but getting out well

enough. The gap from the first Honda back to Pedrosa... I'm quite

surprised. I thought Pedrosa was going to have the pace. Capirossi

is back in the pit. He's having a nightmare in a bubble car.

What a shame. It is not the way he would want his day to end.

That's assuming somebody doesn't come up with a great offer for him.

He's had more hum condition backs than Nelly Melba. That's Alvaro

Bautista, the guy in aluminium. He's gone too deep. He does look a

bit like David Essex in those colours.

Cal is on the back of him now. While we watch Cal Crutchlow

bearing down on Alvaro Bautista, what happened to Nicky? It's the

curse of the track here really. Bad luck. What happened? I hate this

place. I got a decent start. We went a lot better this morning. I

was fifth in the warm-up and really consistent. I got a decent start

and got up with the group. I thought OK, I can go with this

group. But turn 15, I lost the front over some bumps and Bam! I

was down really quick before I had any chance to try and save it.

was rider error. It was my fault. apologise to the team and the

sponsors, because I made a silly mistake, we could have had a decent

race. Hopefully we'll learn from it and move on. Thank you Nicky.

Always candid, Nicky Hayden. We are really sorry too. We love having

him on board. We are back to the Ducati having no feel. That's what

everyone is complaining about. You are over the bumps and you lose

them. I've ridden motorcycles where you get no feel from it and it is

no good. You need a warning or you do keep falling off. Athens

greatest rider, arguably, of our era, Valentino Rossi, can't ride it

fast because he isn't getting any feed-back from the bike. This is

the battle for the Championship, kids. Lorenzo is aware he needs to

win some races. I think he was on the brakes on the paint there.

Probably gave himself a bit of a scare.

He is definitely gapping there, mate. This would be something else.

We heard from Jorge's team this is an important juncture in the system.

Jorge knows he needs to win races. He lost knows that Casey Stoner

needs to have some problems. Realistically a non-finish at some

point. Casey Stoner will be doing of the year and just about do it,

but that's high risk. A flip side, he is riding around on 20 points.

Lorenzo would be all over him if running is concertinaing. Going

back to Nicky Hayden, I hope for his sake the bike isn't too wet.

She on his sixth engine now, as is Valentino Rossi. I know someone who

might have a spare engine, as we look at Bautista, sorry, Barbera.

Loris Capirossi has had a dog day afternoon. This is a shocker.

Loris, back luck. Your last home GP. What was the problem? I don't know

what really happened. At the start I had a big problem with the chain

and the bike started not to go. I had a couple of laps of waiting to

see if it would rain. But the rain did not come. We changed everything

on the bike but I went out. What happened, I wasn't able to continue

like that. Anyway, we really hope to have soon a little bit better

luck. We hope so too. Thank you. Not worth persevering with? If the

bike is crook and if it starts raining he would come in and change

it. I'm sure there'll be a post- mortem to find out what happened.

Jorge Lorenzo has set the fastest pace of the race. 1: 415. Lorenzo

is gap. I said a couple of races ago that

we were so lucky to have a Championship so tight at that point

in the season, with Rossi AWOL from the front end of the grid.

Pouring five points back out of Casey Stoner's lead, Lorenzo will

still be in good shape. The slightest mistake and they'll

say the track was nothing like it was yesterday, this circuit is not

known for its grip either. Absolutely. We have to remember

that in qualifying Stoner was only a tenth in front of Jorge Lorenzo

and Lorenzo was fastest in one of Eleven, Ben Spies.

The GP11.1, a revised rear end. Valentino Rossi hasn't got many

Charlie. Blue sky now. Hopefully the rain has disappeared. Do we say

hopefully? Sometimes it is interesting when it rains. 180

miles per hour that corner is taken train hire. This is the battle for

fourth. Marco Simoncelli there. And then Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino

Rossi is in the hump. Just sensed that time maybe he got his head

down a bit, Simoncelli. Alvaro Bautista on the lone Suzuki.

And Cal Crutchlow still in touch. Hector Barbera got past. Aoyama is

not letting him go. Colin Edwards had a really bad lap

last time. Not sure what went on. Karel Abraham in 13th. Behind him

De Puniet and Elias. Ben Spies has got past Valentino Rossi. Not a bad

run-in for these guys. With the race progressing fuel

loads are getting lighter, the front tyres are getting a little

wear. I assume the vagaries that Valentino Rossi suffers from in the

Ducati, it continues as the race race avidly from his home in

California. We are past halfway of the race

distance. Simoncelli is gapping Dovizioso. Ben Spies work ing away.

Crutchlow in the background. You are right, Colin Edwards has an

issue. Bautista has mugged him already. I don't know what's

happened to Colin. His last lap was a 36. The guys in front and behind

him, Crutchlow with 35. It is not looking good. Bautista moves up one

Brits. They did lose an engine here on

Saturday morning. It was an engine that had done lots of miles. Suzuki

had a small technical problem. They couldn't fix id. They've used less

than some of the teams. We are hoping and praying that the news

will come through that they will ride two bikes next year. You just

saw a very good aerial shot of the gap between these three and Marco

Simoncelli. He is firmly fourth with Dani Pedrosa down the road.

Jorge Lorenzo is having a stellar day. Three seconds now over Casey

Stoner. Stoner has the 44-point cushion. Something that slowed his

pace down. He should be running low 34s. He is running 34-and-a-halfs.

It will only be Casey who will know what is going on.

I suspect it is something to do with grip levels. Jorge Lorenzo

might be Spanish but he is red hot in Italy.

He won in Italy. He had second in Germany. Snecked the States --

Second in the States and then third off the podium.

I'm listening to the growl of the Yamaha. Absolutely on it. This is

the fastest part. Look at the speed. Just roll the throttle. Tease it.

motorcycle when it is going away from you. He always becomes

stronger and stronger. He knows he's got to get the first laps and

starts sorted. Every time we see him he is coming all the way

through. He had a stellar ride in America. It is not his fault. He

was boxed out. He never seems to be at the sharp end at the start. He's

going to be another one that will be tight on fuel. He is one of the

biggest riders, so he will be using more fuel. And because he didn't

get a good start he's having to threat from Ben Spies, so they are

closing down on Simoncelli with ten laps to go. Ben Spies is working

hard to get past number four, and they are both closing in on

Simoncelli. There will be frantically waved pit boards next

time around for this large, go? Jorge Lorenzo has a three. A

second lead. We expected Casey Stoner to play a percentage game,

but that was on the assumption that his team-mates disappeared into the

distance, not Jorge. I still have not worked out what it is, and we

will not be able to until we can ask him what is going on. It will

almost certainly be the podium you would expect. He said after

qualifying they had put behind them some of the problems of the last

couple of races which saw Lorenzo off the paid him. -- the podium. He

is banking consistent lap times. They fell on a setting that they

had not used for a while, and it just seemed to work for him. We all

know from our own experience that you find a setting that works for

one track but it doesn't work somewhere else. You have to start

from the beginning, sometimes work in the opposite direction. You get

25 for a win, so it is as close as you like so far into the

championship. It is quite healthy if it finishes in this way. I think

Casey Stoner, with nine laps remaining, can count himself lucky

there is road between him and Dani Pedrosa, all the damage would be

much worse. Through these remain right hander, Simoncelli throws the

bike at the corner. Seemingly, he is the room. His leg is light and

air brake, jamming the bike into the corner. One of the loveliest

blokes about, world champion last year in the low at level. He is

struggling so much on his bike macro. Nobody knows why, apart from

his riding style. He does not seem to be ever to get the Bridgestone

tyres to work. You can only go with these back tyres, and he has gone

with the softest option. Last year they were axe murderers in that

series, so competitive, they are mostly younger than him but he saw

them off in fine style. I think Dani Pedrosa is gaining on Casey

Stoner. There may be trouble ahead... That could be very

interesting. It could be, because that would be another four points

taken away from him. We are not expecting any team orders. When

questioned, Dani Pedrosa, in the middle of our screen, number 26, he

said, first of all I look after Dani Pedrosa and then I look after

the team. I think he has demonstrated that throughout his

career, what with one thing and another. Andy already has a

contract in his pocket for next year. He can be as nasty as the

likes! He is about 5 kph faster than anybody else simply because of

his weight advantage. Well, his motorcycle will be able to run a

richer mixture of. The gap is coming down. He is able to run a

richer engine mapping because he is not so tight on fuel because the

motorcycle is not pulling as much weight around. Cal Crutchlow.

at that, does he make the corner? That is the point. No! I did not

think he would. As long as it does not torpedo Colin Edwards on the

way out. There is a lot of form- filling when you take out your

team-mate, you are here until late at night. I think Dovizioso has his

years. I would imagine Ben Spies, the way he is looking, is going to

pick his way past the pair of them, front guys. -- lapping in. That is

the factory Honda scalp in front of Adriatic coast, near Rimini, has

just signed another five-year contract. Nicky Hayden will be

pleased! He will, won't he?! I had not considered that. I hate this

Jorge Lorenzo at his best. We know what a great champion he is, taking

his first championship last year, for second place! It is as tight as

you like. The Australian is one- tenth behind Casey Stoner, closing

of Casey Stoner. -- took half a second. The left side of his rear

tyre does not look so good. All the teams knew that it was pretty close

and tight between the hard and soft tyre, rear tyre. Casey Stoner would

probably be harder on tyres than a Dani Pedrosa. I think the left side

of his tyre is looking dodgy. harder on motorbikes. Absolutely,

just slightly more aggressive. Dani Pedrosa is mood, he carries corner

speed more, not as hard, not using out of grip there. To take part the

second out of the guy leading the world championship is really

something. -- half a second. This is that pass. The got the drive out.

I do not know if that was a cake or whether the foot slipped off, but

it was neatly done. It actually started on the exit out of Tramanto

corner. He has got the acceleration. In my opinion, it is not just his

weight, it is the fuel mapping as well, he has got more horsepower.

As he was saying before, when the engine realises it does not got

enough gas, when it worked that out, it buttons off the horsepower. That

is painful, but it was a big pass, the fastest corner on the track.

Gutsy stuff, he got the job done. I think that is the last Casey Stoner

will see of him. He will not want to be falling off, he still has a

for Jorge Lorenzo. He will not know that has happened, but he will be

very happy when he sees the order they come in on. Dani Pedrosa is in

a bind, because he will not want to help me -- L Jorge Lorenzo because

he does not like him. I think they have made up. Simoncelli was the

enemy, they ended on him, so I think they made up a touch.

Fantastic! Nobody really likes anybody any more, do they? I like

you... We will get the gap in a second as they come across the

strike, but you can bet your bottom Stoner is now seven seconds behind

Jorge Lorenzo. This is coming back towards Simoncelli. He got past

Dovizioso, number of four, but he has responded to the challenge from

Number 11, and they have closed up again. I would say Simoncelli has

been using more fuel and tyres. Dovizioso has a golden opportunity

in these last four laps to squeeze advantage. It depends on where the

pass happens, if it happens. Dovizioso, the Repsol Honda, if he

can push Simoncelli at, Ben Spies will be through the gap as well. He

will be studying the rear end of bikes, one white, one orange, but

Simoncelli in the senior team has a factory machine. He is hoping to

get one again next year. That is the mats, 35 points, that is very

significant. That is not comfortable for Casey Stoner. I

would rather have the lead than be chasing it, but even so... It is

not much fun losing this race this weekend. I'm very interested to

find out what is going on. I thought he would have the pace. I

think he will say he should have chosen the harder rear tyre.

Everyone has been talking about real grip, particularly Valentino

Rossi. He has done a. Simoncelli is not having it! Shades of Simoncelli

and Dani Pedrosa. How tight, look at the three bikes. I am running

out of voice! I have never seen the person generally is not

generous, he slams it back just as hard! He toughed it out, clean as

you like. I want to see that again. He wants another bit of it,

Simoncelli has got his blinkers on, he is not looking at all. Normally

they go on the outside. He hung on to it. You know the guy on the

inside is going to... Here we go! Simoncelli cannot get in touch. If

he is not careful, he will be jumped by the Yamaha behind him.

The does not know when he is beaten. You are right, we are on board with

Ben Spies, and he will be try to make a move as quickly as possible.

Simoncelli will not be pleased. Ben Spies will be tried to make a jump

on him very quickly, I believe. is looking more comfortable on the

is really national pride here. sure is, and factory pride as well.

You do not want to be beaten by somebody outside of the works team.

He will be the third of the works riders as it says. Dovizioso is the

championship. Remember this guy? This is the guy leading the race!

He looks like he is doing a lap by himself. 34, he is still really

banging in the laps really hard. The chassis, the tyre looks good,

nothing wrong with that. It looks good, and you can tell by his lap

times. Look at the focus, those Spanish eyes glaring into the

means that at the end of that, we are counting down the laps, two

left. Wayne Rainey, the whole of the Yamaha garage looking on with

apprehension, pride, delight. They have just got to keep their fingers

crossed for another lap and a bit, and then it is all over. What a

triumph that would be for Jorge Lorenzo, and what a problem it is

with Dani Pedrosa second, a huge problem for Casey Stoner back in

third place. He loses a whole bunch of points today. The manager of

Dani Pedrosa there, waving him on. He does not need to because he has

a nice gap. But this is still going on, it is all happening here.

trying to work out what Dovizioso he can pull it out! Dovizioso cuts

back. Simoncelli will want to fight hardly call the thing up and runs

Italians are nuts, I am out of here! Be careful with that voice!

Kan Simoncelli hold it for half a some replays of that. Simoncelli

would not give back. Marco Simoncelli won't be leaving a gap.,

Unbelievable performance. Jorge Lorenzo, against all the odds,

takes it out in San Marino. Second. Third for Casey Stoner. Simoncelli

and Dovizioso. He just did it I think. 3,000ths in it. Not a lot.

And Valentino Rossi with a face- saving 7 I think.

He got tenth there, Cal Crutchlow. That's motorcycle racing at its

best. Three abreast and on the brakes. Colin has some issues. I'm

guessing it's tyres. Randy had a lonely race there. Toni

Elias is still completing his lap. Careful Jorge. Engines to think of.

Don't blow an engine up slowing down and popping wheelies. Words of

restraint from Steve. A great ride for him. Round 13 and he has pulled

back a nice number. That's not what was on (Inaudible) loses nine

points to Lorenzo. 35 points it is. He hasn't been silly and chucked it

down the road. I guess, Steve, if you were in his position you would

have to play a percentage game. He's got issues. We'll find out

shortly what they are. I would bet your mortgage that it was a tyre

situation. That was a good race by Simo. He really did well there. He

didn't throw it up the road. Valentino Rossi coming home 7th, 23

seconds behind. That's an for Jorge Lorenzo. 33: 9. 33: 1 for

Stoner in qualifying. It shows how hard they were going. A mid-race

distance, almost. You can tell... That's not

excitement, that's relief as well. Zeal zeal -- you can see Casey

there. Damage control I guess for Stoner.

We've got a dive coming. Does he know there isn't a smiming pool

there! The big guy caught him. That's his

job. A solid ride there. Dani Pedrosa

has been in the shade just a tiny bit just by a tenth to Lorenzo and

Stoner. That was tough racing from this guy. He is always Mr Exciting.

Thankfully they haven't blunted that excitement from him. He was

castigated earlier in the year but he is a star in the future, Marco

Simoncelli. Valentino Rossi there, I know it sounds as if I'm

clutching at straws on behalf of his legion of fans. But he's

finished 23 seconds behind the race leader. It has been much worse than

that. Come on, you are good at sign language. What's the explanation?

Looks at his rear tyre. I think they are all borderline.

Depending on your riding style and the suspension settings, some

suffered more than others. A wol opening ring by Jorge Lorenzo.

That circuit is a fiddly old thing, but what an outstanding result for

Jorge Lorenzo. Really winches Casey Stoner back. Dovizioso comfortable

in third. Dani Pedrosa, Ben Spies and Valentino Rossi pretty well

Randy hasn't done enough finishing this year to be further up the line.

You can see how close we are to the coastline. Jorge Lorenzo, I don't

know if he is more surprised than we are. What a victory, 7 seconds

in front. Congratulations. Yes, thank you very much. I really

needed this victory. The last two races have been a nightmare for me,

so to be back with a very good bike, it is good. I want to thank all the

team, because they were there for me. Thank you. He did say before he

was feeling more confident after qualifying that things were going

better. But this must be way beyond his expectation. Pleasantly

surprised. Really solid. I think possibly the wet few laps helped

him at the beginning. It kept him out in front and didn't do him any

harm. It helped everyone with fuel consumption. Casey said to us

yesterday, talking to Azi after practise, he thought that Lorenzo

could ba threat and that Lorenzo would push very hard. As I said at

the outset he does have a race base. Dani, he must be delighted. Dani,

congratulations. A few of the riders are struggling. How tough

was it out there? Really tough. The track is very demanding. It was

superhot. But we were lucky it went so hot as yesterday and it wasn't

raining. The bike wasn't how I wanted it but I couldn't push it.

At the end I could catch Casey and I'm happy with a second place. I

hope in the next race I can continue in that way and get some

wins soon. Thank you Dani. Because the Championship is out of reach

with the crash he had in France with Simoncelli, Pedrosa just needs

to bank laudable results from here on in. He needs as many points and

wins as he possibly. We've got a change of formula next year, going

to the 1,000 cc machines. He'll have to get to the gym over the

winter. That's an interesting point. Casey Stoner had a year in 990s but

some of these guys, like Jorge Lorenzo, have never. Their eyes

will be on springs. The testing went extremely well. They all went

out at Mugello. Look at that. I can just see your umbrella from here.

Your drink, they've already put ice in it. My little umbrella is out.

Casey Stoner, the best of the rest today, Azi. Casey, so tough. What

happened. Everything felt good, the bike was working well, the tyres

were good. There was a bit of rain. I didn't want to be the first one

to hit the wet patches, so I decided to follow Jorge. Once the

rain went I started to go feast. I felt comfortable sitting behind him.

I thought I would stay some lap to see if I could learn something and

attack. When it was my time to move forward I got tired. My arms were

tyred and it started to make me brake earlier. I wasn't confident

with the front end of the bike, because I was so worn out. In

general the whole bike has been good this race. The rear tyres were

working well. But no excuses. I'm worn out from the last three races

and haven't been sleeping well. get some sleep. I need some. Well,

that is interesting. He had sickness before but he cleared that

up with a lactosis problem. He is a fit young man. He needs to get

fitter. Even you with a man with no conscience can sleep anywhere but

inside by Dovizioso. Ben Spies looking to have a piece of the

action but couldn't quite do it. Marco Simoncelli, number 58. Never

done with, is he? He never gives up. He knows he has the inside coming

up. Jams it up the inside firmly. He is a big lad. Some of it is a

disadvantage down the straits but for others it is good. He can get

the bike turned. This is where Ben Spies, he can't get the bike leaned

over. I loved that part. He is tough, Marco Simoncelli, but we've

still got a Championship here. was a shame the fight wasn't for a

win but fourth place. I've got the winner of the 197 race here. Randy,

winner of the 197 race here. Randy, what did you make of that race?

was a show of strength for the Yamaha. Even in practise Jorge

showed a great pace. You can never count Casey out. You saw how he was

attacking. Jorge kept the pressure up with the lap times.

Unfortunately Casey couldn't hang in there. You didn't hear the

interview, he said he is tired. Are you surprised by that? I guess we

are all tired but we haven't been doing 28 laps. Yes, but at the

beginning of the pace he was the one pushing wit the full tank of

fuel. Jorge set a blistering pace. We just came out of Indianapolis

and everybody hasn't been sleeping all the best. That's what Casey is

talking about. To each his own. I'm sure he will win a lot more. Maybe

they should look at the calendar. It is strange going to America, to

Europe and we are here for a few days. It is tough on everybody, ept

the team. I left the States on Tuesday and got here Wednesday. I

was thinking about the team personnel. Setting up the garages.

The bike riders can prepare themselves by resting but it is a

tough call on everybody. Podium ceremony is under way now. Charlie

and Steve, the crowd here don't seem to be put off by the fact

there are no Italians up there. and Stoner ston doesn't look

disappointed either. He had a smile a mile wide. Stoner, there is

plenty left in him. I'm afraid we are out of time.