Round 8 - Mugello MotoGP

Mugello. Up until last year of the talismanic circuit for Valentino

Rossi. But now there's a new hero in town. He may win over the fans

but he's not making friends on the track.

This is unbelievable! Fortunately he does not appear to be hurt.

the future if that happens it will be a problem. Lawrence Hill is down.

I hope he will meant the lesson in the future. Mainly I am sorry. I am

sorry. Yesterday he was laughing if someone would arrest him but maybe

he needs that. Dani Pedrosa is back after seven

weeks out and two operations. But not in the mood to forgive and

forget despite that repeated apologies from Marco Simoncelli for

that crash that left him with a broken collarbone. I am joined by a

MotoGP BT van Mark Webber. What you make of all these a handbags in

MotoGP at the moment? I lost touch a bit in the last few weeks but

obviously Simoncelli has been involved in a few incidents here

and there, some a little bit over the edge. But the riders will sort

it out on track. They always do. So I'm looking forward to the race

today. This is a very physical clap. The Yamaha looks quick. What to

make of this event at? This is a special one? It is phenomenal. This

is motor racing at its best. You see the passion, you have got the

hills and the background. I think we need a Formula 1 race here! It

has got more atmosphere than most of our places. It is a sensational

track. Beautiful for the riders and drivers. Have you asked Casey

Stoner if you can have a go on this? It is probably a bit short

for me but one day I would love to do some laps. It would be so alien

from what I am used to. But respect for the guys. Balancing the bike

right on the edge. They're all just phenomenal. I hope they have a good

safe race today and enjoy it. Pedrosa is back to do and Casey

Stoner in the Repsol Honda team. But not quite back to full fitness

just yet. How long before you are one &? It is hard to say. It was

now it is really painful and I feel I'm not so strong. It is my right

hand, normally I always go with my left and this is the first time I'm

having problems with the right hand. But I hope that I can get back to

the top and try to win some races. Is it just a case of focusing on

yourself and your own performance now? There's so much going on in

the press it must be hard to concentrate full stop I have a

special technique - I read nothing about it and that works. Sounds

like a good technique! Great to see Dani Pedrosa back. It has been well

overdue. It is good to have him back. But how many times have we

seen embracing when his series is already in tatters? Still a lot of

points up for grabs. We just so this shot of the handshake before

the press conference on Thursday. What did you make of it? I thought

it was all to do with the fact that Simoncelli had not washed his hands

after going to the toilet! But it is getting ridiculous. Well one guy

not here this weekend unfortunately his Loris Capirossi. He was injured

and is still a bit battered and bruised. He will be missing from

this race for the first time in 20 years. What a waste. We have seen

some of his best races here. Some great efforts from him. And it is

Courier time as well for us Capirossi I guess. He will have to

ask themselves some questions. think so. He just has not cut it.

And when you get a little bit older it you do not even know why you are

not doing so well. And other Italian, Valentino Rossi. This is

his circuit and it is just not going to plan. You either have to

worry that your Hero has got through it you knew hero has a head

full of straw. Valentino Rossi is struggling with handling. The front

end is still worrying him. thing that will Wherry his fans is

that he is not even the fastest to catty. No, not nearly. They just do

not seem to be able to unlock the bike. At that the merchandising

guys are worried. Today I think she might be found out. They're just

not getting it together. And Jill Burgess is not here this weekend.

Yes his wife is having medical checks. That is awkward because

they need all the help they can get trying to sort out that bike.

we wish him and his wife or the best. He may not be the fastest to

catty, Valentino Rossi, but he is the fastest in the Championship.

He's tough at the moment but you have to imagine that that position

is coming under serious threat now. Ben Spies should be further up the

Championship than he is. He is low on points but now he's Burrell and

feels he is getting results under his belt. And what about Casey

Stoner, 20 points in the lead? Looking good for Casey. The Honda

is arguably the best package out there. He is fast and solid and has

got a great bike underneath them and a good team around him. Well we

will see how he gets on. The man on the move at the moment is Ben Spies.

He's showing all the ingredients to be a future world champion.

AMA Superbike champion. The old Superbike champion.

-- world. MotoGP rookie of the year. And now all in just his second

season, a MotoGP race winner. You have had the best part of a

week now to reflect, has its own kin that you are a winner? Honestly

it has not. It has started to. Once I got back to Italy and went

downtown and had some dinner I could see how different it was to

be an MotoGP winner and how will the people were just so excited

that for me. It was more excited than I was. It is going to take a

while to sink in. It may not happen again, I don't know. But I do know

it helps me in my head as a rider knowing that when the bike is there

and I'm riding well, that I can't win it. I felt more relieved than

joyful that it is over and done with. But now it is done I can

concentrate just on going back to the track and work on getting the

job done. Generally in MotoGP there seems to be a lot of riders who

have fallen out with each other. How do you get on with the other

riders? I get along with everybody pretty much. Motegi P E with the

riders, the hospitality, it is a travelling family. And when you

travel so much during the year and you're in this world, I want to get

along with everybody. When the green flag drops, I do not have any

friends out there. But it is nice to be able to go and chat with the

riders. I do not need - some people need animosity to race better but I

do not care. If it is my best friend I would probably raise them

harder than somebody I do not like. You said it was like a family but

you also have your mother here as well. You or relationship with your

mother is quite unique, and she helps you out professionally?

is the reason that I'm here. She worked three jobs when I was a kid

and if it was not for her I would not be here. I owe her basically

everything. As much as Siddique supports it I'm sure that it's

vital trip I was done with the racing she would be happy. If you

did decide tomorrow you did not want to do MotoGP any more, his

cycling but think that you would turn to? For fun. But I'm not good

enough to be a professional cyclist and I do not want to suffer so much

as they do. I would do it hard core for 10 days and then go back to a

real job. But it is a good week for me to turn it my brain of MotoGP

racing. But apart from that I do not know what I would do. I do not

have any great skills. But that is my favourite hobby and I like to do

it. I would race and have fun but I'm genetically not gifted enough

to do that well at it. And your hopes for this weekend? This is

almost like another home race for you? The Italian people have been

very good to me and it is like a second home race basically. I

definitely want to back up what we did last weekend. We want to show

the confidence and we need to be upfront again. But there was a lot

of stuff happening here. Valentino has the best track record here. It

is their home test track. So I expect him to be pulling some stuff

alt. All we can do is give it 100% like we always took and hope it

comes together. Good luck. Well Ben species back include this weekend.

What a weekend that was for him. The first dry race winner since two

dozen than six. It was a different story with his old team last

weekend. They had severe problems with their front tyres. You can get

a look at the where on that. It was a difficult weekend for them and

this is another circuit that places huge demands on the tyres. We went

to have a look and find out more. Down here at Bridgestone, the TEC

three guys at young had did not know what had gone on. Can you shed

any light? It was a slightly strange situation. It was 29

degrees colder it than last year. So the guys went out to the grids

on the wet tyres. And it is very unlikely that you can go from the

wet tyres straight to the heart. And pretty much everybody used the

softer front tyre. Of course that warms up quicker but it does not

last so long. And we got that graining. The bikes and the riders

use the tyres differently. The Tech 3 Yamaha bikes used them harder and

You're using you the asymmetric tyres for the first time. Should

this work better here? The world record was set at Mugello last year

by Dani. This year, as part of this lane to the riders and providing

something softer that warms up quickly, we brought asymmetric

tyres which means the left shoulder is a little softer, to give them

more grip on the left Tyneside and more consistency.

Hopefully asymmetric ties will militate against the problems we

saw Simoncelli had last time. A big problem for Bridgestone is trying

to prevent tyre degradation. Take the main straight. They are doing

0-100 mph. It generates so much heat that it runs the risk of

disintegrating the stock and even bigger problem is tired degradation

through constant corners. -- tyre degradation. They hit the brakes

and the suspension possums out and the tyre wall goes like that. Then

they get on the gas. They stuck to head up the hill. They never stand

the bike up. Then they get to the crest of the hill and the tyre

grows light. It is still grinding and yet at another angle again.

They are putting it on an angle grinder and trying to destroy the

edge of it. Bear in mind that this track is all brand new, so it is as

rough as an emery board. It is a trap that demand -- is

demanding on ties but divides his signing of the theatre for the

thousands of fans who have descended here for what is for them

a treat tribal gathering. The never are the colours so vivid

all the support so passionate as here in Mugello Kong where the

Italian riders get fanatical Over the years, there has been a

sea of red and white in this, the Ducati stand. Meanwhile, over here,

they have been sticky yellow. This is Valentino Rossi territory. --

strictly Ella. Where once they competed to be the biggest and the

loudest, this year the once sworn enemies have formed an eagerly

anticipated Alliance. I was Ducati and then Valentina. We have Italian

pilots and Italian bikes. Ducati yes but Valentina is the God.

Valentina is the best. He is the first rider, for up Italy he is

number one. Ducati is Italian. Work, work, Ducati will go.

The doctor needs a miracle cure if he is to recreate the races that

have made him the most successful rider here at the Mugello circuit.

He has nine wins in all classes here, including one very special

L&G comes in steaming with the brakes. He muscles his way past

Rossi. Rossi's has not on your life. The land leases come up Ia and

going to take it anyway. This is great stuff. This is the part of

the circuit there really plays to Rossi. P Reid takes the lead. They

have won a corner to go. A slide from Loris Capirossi. This is a

last corner. What can Capirossi do? Canny comeback? Cannae get the

power down? Will it be a Ducati podium on the home circuit? Yes, it

An Italian classic. Now there is a new generation of local lads

looking to make their mark in front of this incredible crowd. Here is

how they got on yesterday in qualifying.

Casey Stoner came out on top in their rain-affected qualifying

session. He set a new circuit record of 1:0.4. Ben Spies was

second quickest, half a second behind Stoner. Completing the front

row was Marco Simoncelli who look like a poor contender for much of

the session. But he got tangled up a little bit in the rain. Cal

Crutchlow was in line for a desperate top-six position right

till near the end of the session when Colin Edwards knocked him off

back to 7th. As for the home fans' favours, he is back in 12th. No

sign yet that Valentino Rossi and Ducati are any closer to solving

There he is, Casey Stoner, number 27. He has 27 wins to his name and

his -- this is his 27th pole. We spoke to him earlier on. The same

position as Assen a week ago. Hope for the same result? There is

always a hope. We got good confidence at Assen. We just want

to get a good start and see where we can be at the end. Yamaha is

working really good here. We can't expect Assen to happen every week.

It was fun while it lasted and we would try to get a good start here.

It was 0.08. I think we will have a good race. We could see four guys

go at it until the end. Ben Spies second on the grid for the second

race in succession. Who else to round up the front row? For the 6th

successive race, Marco Simoncelli, Dani Pedrosa is coming through as

well. Colin Edwards qualified on the outside of the second row just

behind Marco. It was right at the end of the session he knocked off

his team-mate, Cal Crutchlow. You really didn't need the rain

yesterday, did you, on a track that you are learning? I know you find

it quite difficult on this track as well. No, not at all. We had the

worst warm-up this morning I think you could ever have. We will see

what we can do here. It is just track experience. We are going to

gamble and run the soft tyres. They probably will not last the race but

we will try our best. Let's move on because behind Cal Crutchlow we

have Dani Pedrosa. There was a lot of talk about his motivation after

all those crashes for coming back to racing. I can tell you he has

been all smiles and pretty relaxed here this weekend. He was second

fastest on Friday and he has been pretty happy with the rain in the

sessions. He was talking earlier about the pain he has been feeling.

So it remains to be seen what he can do in race distance. But as we

know, he is really good for his start.

He is a demon starter and it is a long straight down towards the

first turn. Some way further back is Valentino Rossi in 12th. I have

his team manager here. What is going on? Valentino's struggling

with Ducati still and been beaten by other Ducatis as well. Yesterday

was a tough day but I think this morning in the warm-up we had a

difference and he felt better. So we think this is the start we look

for in the race. And of course we looked to go ahead of all the other

Ducatis. More Rossi magic? Yes, maybe. We hope to find the same

edition that was in the warm-up. Good luck.

Just one more before we get kicked off that I would like so catch up

with. De Puniet. He is not there. The talkies that Sylvain is going

to replace Capirossi in two weeks' time. We are all set up now for the

start. 23 laps. We have pool men in particular are very much on the

pace. All eyes on one of them, Marcus Simoncelli. Steve Benjani in

the commentary box as usual. Our first 23 laps, you'd have to say

Simoncelli in particular the first nervous about. Probably the left-

hander. Over the crest of the whole, there is a chance to get it sorted

out and get back up the hill. But then the tide and twisted turn that

we will have a look at in the laps, the journey. It is quite a

circuit. Talking to the riders, it doesn't necessarily look that way

but it is fast changes of direction. It goes on and on with chicanes and

hills. There is no time to get a breather. It is very, very

difficult and very, very hot. I think we are 28 a 29 degrees. It is

looking like being at Cocking race. We saw Ben Spies saying that he

reckons there will be a bunch of them, Parnaby four guys battling it

out. This guy is looking lonesome on the 4th row. There are two other

Ducatis faster than him on the Forth Road, which is always very

difficult. Word coming to me is that Simoncelli has some problems.

You do not need to bomb stark one of those bikes on the start-line.

He has got it going. But it doesn't do well to get on it and sort it

out afterwards, if I was you, Marco. The last thing you need is being

hot and bothered before the start of the race. It ruins your

composure. It could wreck your hair! I hope we didn't fire of his

airbag. You will see some real shots onto the bottoms of the

riders that they have airbags. Casey usually holds back. Valentino

Rossi will hopes he stars as well as in the warm-up. He is important

rider to watch aside from the fact of all the nonsense being talked

about him. They are ideally as many people around Simoncelli's track as

Valentino Rossi's. These are these winding corners, left to right,

left to right. They go for 110 to 140 back to 110 mph. Pedrosa is

going to find this very, very hard going indeed. There is lots of

downhill and off camber and big stocks. I have a feeling Dani

Pedrosa will be better once the race gets going. It is funny how

Payne seems to disappear when after his win. Lots of results. A

wonder if Yamaha will look at the team order at any stage. We just

saw the safety car or going through. For Valentino Rossi, a last year he

left Mugello in an ambulance. the grid it is important to keep

our eyes out for Dani Pedrosa. at the crowd. It is a big one.

Casey Stoner on the left. Similar Shelley on the right. And where

weighty for the start and there are a wave. Marco Simoncelli has

dropped back behind Lorenzo. Dovizioso trying to come through

the middle. Riding with Valentino Rossi. We take our first left-

hander. It over the Crest of the hill. So Margot Zemin Shelley did

not make a lot of that there but a to find a way past Marco's

Simoncelli. Casey Stoner in the lead. Dovizioso is always a strong

has up their sleeves. Tony Elias is up into 7th place. In front of Cal

Crutchlow. I do not know what went on there. Casey Stoner is at the

front. One lap down and he leads. And what a first lap that was.

Bautista goes down the inside. is Nicky Hayden. Straight back onto

the track. He was really in good shape there. What about the crowd

here today? The Ducati fans are not getting a great deal. Down the hill

we go. Look at Alvaro Bautista! I do not Megawati had for breakfast.

-- I do not know what he had for breakfast. It is getting busy.

Already we are going to find out whether Lorenzo can stay in touch

with Casey Stoner or if Dovizioso gets all over him. The Honda is

good on this circuit. It looks like Casey Stoner is bolting at this

moment. That was a shocker. Nicky Hayden. There running with the

hounds before that. Casey Stoner with the fastest lap. Bautista or

having an outstanding ride. The whole of this circuit has been

resurfaced. There's not a more beautiful band of tarmac in the

world. Working our way down the hill. Margot's Simoncelli is not

really in Dovizioso. Realistically Margesson and cherry does not want

to go and do anything silly. -- ma Championship. Take a look at this.

There's number 19 in front of Colin Edwards, in front of Cal Crutchlow

and a whole clutch of other people. Including Valentino Rossi.

Qualifying shuffled things up. But just to have a shot at qualifying.

They cut tiers wrong. But this is better than anything we have seen

from Zizzo keep this year. There is talk of Suzuki not entering the

race next year. Cal Crutchlow has never been here before. It is going

to be a tough race for Valentino Rossi. Cal Crutchlow still pretty

so air from his broken collarbone from Silverstone. Pretty much all

the front guys have gone for the harder tyres. Cal Crutchlow is one

who has gone for the softer at tyre. But the top four or are all on the

hard tyres. It is really going to play itself out in the second part

of the race with the heat, the sun. It is much hotter than these guys

have experienced all weekend. much Ellie's last lap was the 10th

of the second to faster than the two guys in front of him. So he is

creeping up. Has Lorenzo gone too deep? Just hangs on to it. It is

one of those corners. It goes down whole -- Downill and it just wants

to subacute in. Ben Spies will be slightly frustrated having

qualified second for this. He's having to write a hard to keep in

touch with these guys. Including his team-mate. A lot of people have

been saying about Simoncelli being wild and crazy but this circuit in

2006, I can remember Casey Stoner appearing out of the dust. The bike

literally exploded into mid-air as if it had been fired from a harpoon

missile launcher. Casey Stoner used to have the most spectacular

stomach wrenching crashes you have ever seen. And how many times has

Lorenzo done the same thing? board with Casey Stoner. They do

not use the first year around this circuit. -- first year. Valentino

Rossi closing in on the back of Colin Edwards. Cal Crutchlow just

in behind that lot. We took about Valentino Rossi, he is having

another look on the inside. Colin Edwards is his next victim. But he

has got so much pressure on him. Looking at Valentino Rossi, and we

have got Edwards, and in front but Mr. -- Bautista. Valentino Rossi,

one of his favourite passing places is Casanova of. Round the outside

at Casanova's. A all his fans used to be there. He was right in front

of his own crowd. I remember it not long ago when Alvaro Bautista will

slammed down the inside of the Jorge Lorenzo. Lorenzo finished up

meandering through the crowd. That is how long the grudges go back in

his class. That is Lorenzo and that is Dovizioso. He has spent much of

his career chasing Lorenzo around the pack. The old boys are in it

and the crowd are just loving it. Valentino Rossi is through. He has

passed Cal Crutchlow. Now he has to get past Hector Barbera. Valentino

Rossi has moved up into its eighth position. Doing a great job because

he has no confidence in the front of the bike. That is the bike with

a different rear suspension system. There's so much grip on those. And

the new surface here has helped a great deal. It is all in it really

great shape. We must talk about the Ducati. Casey Stoner at the front

just stroking it away. Let's have a look at what Valentino Rossi can do.

Nicky Hayden will be furious with himself. Because he does speak

himself up especially here in front of the home crowd as far as Ducati

are concerned. How about that? Lorenzo has just been done by to

the tyres again. He is pointing at the front tyre. What is going on?

That is out rages if that is the case. Everyone has gone for the

harder option. I don't know what is going on there but what a

Dovizioso said thanks. The rear wheel came up in the air a touch.

Left a yard or so. Now it is Repsol top of the show what was going on

there. Talking to Bridgestones. It was the Tech Three on the guys who

had this problem last time in cold conditions. And Dovizioso was one

of the other ones who had a problem with the tyre wearing in odd places.

Honda have never won in this category. They have won with the

990 bikes. At the moment, Honda are so desperate to win the 800s. A new

lap and circuit record for Stoner. That wasn't bad. Down the hill we

go. The lap record is not as fast a time as the qualifying times. But

nevertheless, as I said before, the Times these guys are banging out

are fast. You don't get a dull race here very often. It is a slight

worry when the field is a bit depleted. In fact, where his Rossi?

I think he got past Barbera. Barbera has got back past him again.

I need to get some paperwork done This is the battle for second. I

will keep an eye on Simoncelli's time. He would be getting a spell

of the exhaust fumes... He nearly drove up those exhaust fumes.

Barbera now at the head of that. now got Barbera to try to deal with.

-- Bautista in blue. Close stuff there. Lorenzo de squeezed his way

past. He ran into the corner too hot. In 4th place, Marco Simoncelli

is watching all this going on. You can see that he is much closer. Ben

Spies not dropping off either. Rossi now is in to 6th position.

fairness, he had the better of a battle in the last couple of laps.

Rossi started 12th and has battled his way through and he has had to

race all the way through this lot. Over the line goes the leader. I

look at Bhagat. It is 2.3 seconds. That is comfortable for Casey

Stoner. I know he takes a different line through there. Lorenzo. But

he... Here they come. Brace yourself! It is a lovely set of

cross about this and I think the crowd will as well. But they played

so Hector Barbera. He has not had a great year but he is having a good

race here. He is way down in the championship. This is an absolute

belter. Ducati, Suzuki. Up the whole we go. Then the Honda and

then the Yamaha. It is a great clutch of bikes. Rossi on the

inside. Can Barbera hang him off? He has got to be slipped streaming

down this long, long straight. It is 0.7 of a mile long. And it is

downhill. That is the part of the circuit where Rossi hurt himself

last year. The Ducati team give very good customer engines.

Absolutely. If anything, Lorenzo is struggling with the brakes a little

into that corner. I think he is faster in the middle of the corners.

But sometimes you are in the slipstream at 200 mph and it upsets

the bike. This is a reverse of their 250 days. It used to be

Lorenzo in front. A beautiful move. That is down at Casanova again.

Third gear corner, about 110 mph. Simoncelli keeps nudging his way

closer and then he loses it. To ritzier so cannot turn when he

wants to. -- Andrea difference here so it can't turn when he wants to.

Our life is like a time warp together. So that gap at the front,

comes up. Shifting gear and then the other part of the ramp. Jorge

Lorenzo this time. Ben Spies is not done with. He has definitely closed

up on Marco Simoncelli. Meantime, he is tried to get them if he

possibly can. I think they eventer keep each other tangled enough to

do it. Try to have a look at Barbera. We have the other battling

Ducatis. I would not look over my shoulder now. I think he looked

over his shoulder not to upset Nicky Hayden. He has let him

through. Nicky Hayden was let through by Karel Abraham. That is

Nicky Hayden, who has now moved up to 11th spot. Number 69. He went

into the gravel on lap two. 2.1 seconds, the advantage he has got.

We are waiting to see if he has extended it or lost it. It is just

enough of a lead. He cannot go too mad with it. But it is useful

enough. This is where thickness comes into it now with 11 laps

remaining. The Yamahas do such a good job there. The Honda

particularly. What a great start for Casey Stoner and also getting a

breaking-point right. You never get a chance to test job breaking point

of the start line. The watch the blue bike at the back, 19. What

about any as? He is right on the inside there. I think he went with

Battista. There is Elias with the yellow helmet. Karel Abraham got

shuffled out there. The gap from Stoner back to Lorenzo is 1.9. That

has gone down from 2.1. We have 10 laps remaining. There is the leader,

right. I get so excited. There is just too much going on! It is

electric! A will Casey Stoner be able to respond to this? Ben Spies

is right on the back wheel of Marco Simoncelli. Marco Simoncelli has

run out of puff. I reckon his head has got hot. Maybe his hair will

melt off. These two will now be working their way back on to it.

Yes, Simoncelli has really got to concentrate. Ben Spies has got the

monkey off his back of Assen. I would have thought Marco Simoncelli

could block him out. He didn't need a second invitation! A little tiny

gap like a rat up a drainpipe and he was through. He has got the

taste for racing now after last week. He got his head down. It

wasn't an error from Simoncelli so much. It was just a fantastic bit

of work from Ben Spies. He managed to keep it nice and tight there. He

got it loped down very nicely. Down the hill through Casanova. 15 left.

We are on board with Marco the bike goes light. Yes, indeed.

Nine laps to go. This is going to be a long nine laps. Here is the

replay. Ben Spies has a look and see is the gap and it is just about

the way it of a Yamaha. Beautiful move. Simoncelli, nice and polite,

tucked his arms in. The critical thing for Simoncelli is actually

tried to keep it on the island and make sure everything works. He has

got to finish even if it is 5th. eight laps gone. Gap is 1.3. We

have a race on here. I know I said that in place two but we didn't. --

less than 1.3, I would have said. They are reeling in Casey Stoner

big time. Very much so, yes. Jorge Lorenzo said his fastest lap of the

race. -- set his fastest lap. We are on board with Casey Stoner for

gear. Can Casey Stoner respond? It is your worst nightmare. This will

be something else. Lorenzo is the man bleeding the Championship. This

is going to be a special for the current world champion. Nice clear

vision as he goes over the line. From 1.3 down to 1.0. That has let

Lorenzo off the hook a bit and will give him some breathing space to

really get his head down and get on top of Casey Stoner. Lorenzo in

qualifying, it is not traditionally as Yamaha's circuit. It looks like

the Yamaha is the one that has less degradation in its tyres. Because

Lorenza can keep up the pace and it looks to me as if Casey Stoner

cannot. We said about this Championship, no put him trying to

keep in front of Lorenzo and crashing out. The best thing that

Casey Stoner can do is make sure he gets across the line. If he has got

issues... He is in big trouble. some locally. -- absolutely. Casey

Stoner getting reeled in now will be style. The clock. Any minute now.

The crowd trying to wake him on. Not 0.3 of a second it is. While

all this is going on the one man not in the thick of it is Cal

Crutchlow. What happened to. could not afford to crash and I

knew I was going to crash. We struggled for a set up all weekend

and be we chasing I tell. -- we were chasing our tail. That tyre

completely chewed up. I was wide at every single corner in that race.

So decided to pit. That is devastating for me because I never

give in but I have got my shoulder to think of as well. I don't want

to run what we have put in so far. We will go away from here having

learnt some stuff I think. world champion is back in front

with a new lap record. The fastest lap of the race. Down again into

Casanova's. A lovely move. That was terrible news for Cal Crutchlow. He

was being prudent, not wanting to hurt himself. But this Championship

is going to be booted wide open again if Lorenzo can pick up these

points. If he cannot extract that kind of performance from the Yamaha.

Has Casey Zdenek decided to that he wants to hang on to the coat tails

of the Yamaha and? Is going to hang on to Lorenzo and have a go?

key will be where their Jorge Lorenzo can crowbar open a gap. It

looks as if Lawrence Hill is leaving Casey Stoner behind. That

is bad news for Casey Stoner because the last thing he needs is

Dovizioso to take it away. He could lose another it for all points in

that case. That has got to be issues with the tyres unless the

Honda has been burning up too much fuel. In that case the engine

management system will shut itself down. I suspect it is more likely

to be the tyres. Casey Stoner has perhaps Murren down those tyres a

start for Valentino Rossi. He had a bit of a run-down into the first

turn. It seems they have had electrical problems with the Ducati

bike. There's Hector Barbara haven't a good run at the moment.

Ben Spies 18 seconds further up the road. It looks like the Battle of

the Repsol Honda to get second and third. Jorge Lorenzo are looking

good with four laps remaining. Casey Stoner has got a second

problem. He is trying to respond to Lorenzo but Dovizioso has just as

quick. Here is a replay. Then spies and was not close enough. It is

easy to see at Gap and think you can get through it. Colin Edwards

having a reasonable run out there at the moment and Nicky Hayden has

come back pretty good. Casey Stoner trying to hang on to his team-mate.

He just could not get the power. He has lost grip on the rear of that

bike. You can see him try to shift his body weight. He was definitely

in trouble coming out of that bottom end corner. I could see him

trying to shuffle his weight around to try to get more grip. Lorenzo at

the front with A1 second lead over these guys. Dovizioso has recovered

quickly as they work their way up the hill. The elevation changes are

enormous. There is Lorenzo, the reigning world champion. But the

guy that is in the front in the series his way back down the road.

This is probably about the best race I have ever seen for work

Jorge Lorenzo. To come back from where he was in third place to

fight his way back up to the front. Putting in its solid and consistent

times. Running down the hill from the penultimate time. Casey Stoner

seems to have Dovizioso it under control but anything can happen in

the last lap. This is where I expect Dovizioso to be able to get

into the slipstream. You would think he would try to slip through.

Side by side over the hill. Casey Stoner tries to cut back. Dovizioso

throws Casey Stoner. What a belter! Casey Stoner looked to go to the

inside. You can see him go for it the gap. He will not be pleased

about that. That was the most amazing bit of breaking by

Dovizioso. We're down through Casanova's. What can Casey Stoner

do to help his Championship here at the moment the? Was all Dovizioso

in the slip Stream. He may have to stuff him into the last corner,

which is coming up very soon. The two team-mates have to make sure

they do not take each other out. Casey Stoner it seems to be

struggling on the exit of the corners. It looks like Dovizioso is

getting out of their. Jorge Lorenzo has pulled off a magnificent win in

Italy. Dovizioso eclipses Casey Stoner. And a nice one there for

Ben Spies who sees off Simoncelli. The crowd are cheering him over the

line. That was very nice work by Valentino Rossi. What a race he had.

There is Nicky Hayden who made something out of it. And

disappointing to see Alvaro Bautista a, he was so much in the

hunt for so long. I think that is the best race I have seen. The

Honda is such a great bike. Tremendous stuff from the younger

Spaniard. Absolutely brilliant. That was now his 16th win. He has

the body language of someone who looks really surprised by it.

not even think he will have any celebrations. It was not looking

good at the start of the weekend. That is good stuff. Today it ran it

incredibly well. EMI have was good on the tyres. Casey Stoner will not

be pleased. He still picks up some points but not what he was

Dovizioso, whose -- whose voice is just breaking! The unbridled joy a

of being the lead Honda home and a team win. Beating fair and square

Casey Stoner is a belter. Tight round the bottom there. Excellent

move from him out of that final corner. OK, what a way in. -- what

a win. A fantastic win. Where did those

Lamb times come at the end from Jorge Lorenzo? A race like this,

only he can make. It is like a robot. He doesn't like that name.

It is unbelievable how he is doing that and the rest was just

hammering and pushing and finally we did it again. Is the

championship back on now? Were well, that is hard to say. Of course,

these are the moments where we can make the difference and catch up

with Casey a bit. It was good that Dovizioso came second as well. We

clutch up nine points. There are still a long way to go. We are

ready to do more. We were told yesterday you put some 2010 parts

back in the pike. Is that what is making it work? No, not really. It

is a combination. It is still a 2011 bike. That is what matters.

Basically, we improved the set-up and it is a bit different from last

year. We are not sure why we are able to have to change the package

so dramatically. Finally, it is not a 2010 bike. Yes, we are using some

parts but race by a brace, we are making changes. It is a good bike.

Enjoy the party. He must be absolutely... It is an

interesting point about whether they have actually found something

on the bike more than Lorenzo just getting a bit lucky. Yes, what a

ride for this man. It is not a 2010 bike. They have a 2011 registration.

Jorge Lorenzo, current world champion. He didn't have confidence

in the old one. We have all done that. Gone back to start again.

That was a proper little triumph for Dovizioso. I'm sure there will

be congratulations between the team next. I don't think Stoner will

bear in any ill will. I thought at the beginning when Stoner got his

head down and set out to Matt Baggott, botty was gone.

Congratulations there. It was fair and square, wasn't it? This is

where we expected it, losing a bit of paint on the side. Stone in

nearly ran into the back of him. I don't think he could believe that

Dovizioso managed to get it stopped so well and so good. He looked more

under control than Casey. The one thing this championship needs is

more riders. Have you found one, Matt?

I have found one. First of all, look at the crowd coming up at the

bank. I have a former Grand Prix rider with me. He speaks better

English than myself friend Charlie put together. It seems you are

going to be joining a compatriot in the next round at Germany. -- in

Germany. Yes, we're going to start tomorrow so I can get to grips with

the bike. It is nearly three years since I rode it. I can't wait to be

back on it and try the Tantastic bike again. The plans are for the

Saxon ring. We were chatting at the start of the race and you said you

missed that being when all the bikes go off together. What did you

make of the race today? First of all, it was the noise. I was

sitting here with the race director when they started the race. When

the bike goes, I just forgot how loud it was. I used to be on the

grid, so I had the ear plugs. get down to the podium.

Casey, congratulations. Damage limitation, though. What happened?

I did everything I could during the race. We started off up all right

and the bike felt all right. We had a problem in the warm-up. As soon

as the temperature warmed up, we lost grip. We decided whether or

not to change the pressure and I was recommended not to change it

for the race. But as you can see, it was so much hotter. The tyre

pressure got up private at -- too high and I lost my grip. There was

no pressure on the front and has started closing the fund. We

thought let's try to keep a consistent pace, but it was too

slow. There was nothing we could do. We lost all the grip in the rear

and you can't do anything without it. Thank you.

I should say, Casey called her Lucy. He is calling her a different name

every week. Casey was saying that the extra heat today was causing

problems for grip. A difficult weekend because not much dry track

for these guys. It makes it hard. It is hard on the tyres and pop --

and hard physically. After 45 minutes on the bikes, you can feel

it. Of course, it would have been really hard. Casey's pace came down

a bit at the end. Lorenzo was on fire.

Congratulations. Important victory and important to see this by

winning again. The Yes, I'm so happy. I put everything, all the

energy I have in my body on the track. In the end I win the race

which at the beginning seemed so difficult. Casey was so quick.

Little by little, I was recovering. I was not able to overtake them on

the heartbreakings. But I saw the opportunity on the downhill.

Congratulations. Tang Q. What a performance from Jorge

Lorenzo. You were marvelling at his consistency, particularly towards

the end of the race. His pace was unbelievable. It was very

impressive. You could tell he wanted it so badly. He was really

pushing hard. Then Dovizioso gave Stoner a hard time at the end. It

was a great race overall because it is not so often you get the

surprise of people coming back like this. A great podium for the home

fans to celebrate. Congratulations on the podium. You

have given them something to cheer about. Already last year I came

third. It is something I have been waiting to feel. It is something

not many people can feel and it is very special. We made a really good

race. The pace was good. We made a really good weekend. Thank you to

the team. To be the first Italian in Italy is something special.

will and enjoy it. I'm up sure he will enjoy it.

Sylvain, standing on the podium in front of a home crowd and a crowd

like this as well. Look at this. Incredible scenes. It is

unbelievable. I was just thinking, last year you could see everybody

was in yellow but now you can see red and yellow. You're going to be

riding one of these Ducatis. It is not the quickest bite out there at

the moment. A bit of a handful. They are working on it. For a shock,

they are difficult. Everyone is very close in competitions like

this. You just need that little step. Compared to what I'm used to,

this is a very different way of using a bike and I can't wait. When

you push the bikes, there is nothing better in the world. Let's

have a look and some stuff from Valentino today. He always gives

these guys something to watch and A real fight between the three of

them. Barbera did a great race. I was really impressed with how he

wrote. He fought with Valentina until the last laps. Fair play to

him. He is struggling as well. You're fighting with Valentino

Rossi on his home track. You can hear the support for Valentino. It

has been a great race for him. Ducati had the pace here. Overall,

I would say not such a bad weekend the Ducati. I would say they are

probably coming back a little bit. Let's have a look at Jorge Lorenzo.

We all marvelling at him. He not only had the consistency at the end,

but he made some perfect passes as well. It is easy to make a mistake

with the adrenalin rushing. The way he passes Lorenzo, he was so fast

around the corner. Stoner. Yes, Stoner. You cannot tell how steep

it is on the television. He was very good towards the end of the

race. His pace was very quick. You could tell by the body language as

well that he was confident. Today, Lorenzo is back. I think he was

probably hungry from the Assen experience. I would say so. The

No that opportunity for cases don't have to take women number 28. A tip

for Germany. You are going to be on the grid, up 3. If yes, I think so.

It is my favourite track. I got my best race in the Saxon rain in 2008.

Banks were talking to us. We will see you in a couple of weeks.

speaking to you. We will see you there in a couple

of weeks' time as well, Sunday afternoon at 12.30 on BBC Two. In

the meantime, press the red button to get more reaction from re-racked