Mugello MotoGP

Casey Stoner might be the world champion and Hall a Lorenzo the

rising superstar but there is no doubt this man is the king of

MotoGP. We are in Mugello for around nine and this remains his

As national cult heroes go they don't get much bigger than

Valentino Rossi in Italy. The legend was largely formed here in

his home Grand Prix, winning is seven times in a row. He has not

won it since 2000 an eight and I am sad to say the chances of that

today look slim at best. The great man has just come through to the

back of the garage. Despite all the problems with Ducati they do seem

to be turning round somewhat. He has not lost his sense of humour.

He has a special helmet design here which I hope we will get a look at.

It has a picture of an Italian TV celebrity on it here is a bit like

the Italian the Zeeuw,, if you will. His famous catchphrase means let's

stick together. -- Italian the An emotional weekend for Valentino

and the paddock because this is the first race in Italy since we lost

the next big superstar of Italian motorcycle road racing, Marco

Simoncelli back in October. There was a special presentation

yesterday lunchtime, Honda handed over Marco's famous bike to his

family. His father and mother here at the ceremony, very emotional for

them. They also unveiled a brand- new Honda bike which will go on

sale on the day and all the funds from that auction will go to the

Marco Simoncelli Foundation. Wonderful to see that bike again.

You will know that team Gresini have been running in black colour

so far as a respected -- mark of respect to Marko. They have chosen

this race it to revert back to the famous white colours that he made

famous. A very touching reminder of just how much Marco Simoncelli is

missed in his paddock. Big news for the factory Repsol Honda team.

news is that the line-up for the next two years is confirmed. Dani

Pedrosa has signed a contract extension, but it is an all-Spanish

line-up as joining him will be the current mode towed to championship

leader, Mark market. There is a lot of hype about this kid. At just 19

he already has 21 wins and 81 to five cc title behind him.

Understandably he was pretty happy with the announcement. It is so

important for me. I am still a bit surprised but I need to say things

to Honda and Mr Macca motive for giving me this opportunity. When

you think about that you remember all the people that help you in the

best class of the world. I think this is the extra motivation to try

to pass MotoGP. Very articulate and level-headed young man. But don't

be fooled, he is a baby-faced assassin! Very fast indeed. You can

get highlight of the moated to race here from Mugello on our extra show

We expect Cal Crutchlow will either signed to Ducati, or even Nicky

Hayden who shows no signs of wanting to give up on the ride. In

theory it just leaves one factory ride left available at Yamaha.

It looks like that might go to Ben's bees, despite his below-par

performances, Yamaha do seem keen to retain him. -- Ben Spies. Where

does that leave Dovizioso? He is hard to ignore. I caught up with

him and he made it clear what he My target is to go into factory

Yamaha so there is still hope and the any way is to get a result. I

think we already made two podiums and this is important. I have a

good feeling, especially this year, to have some chance to fight for

the championship. Last year I made my best result, third and last year

the level was really high so I am happy. But I did not feel a lot of

March and to improve. But this year with a satellite like I think I am

faster with margin to improve. So if there is a chance to go in the

factory I think it would be interesting. It is looking very

likely he is -- Cal Crutchlow is going to Ducati, as an Italian

rider, how does it make you feel? It is a really nice bike, Italian,

and I think in this moment it is I made a big change this year

because I always race and to change again in this moment I don't feel

it's the best way because my talent is to try to win the championship

and now Ducati are working really hard to become really competitive

but at the moment it is not good like Yamahas and Honda. Maybe it is

not the moment but in the future it can be easy to be there. 19 podiums

now in MotoGP, 60 in all classes and a 125 world champion as well.

So why is Dovizioso not a factory rider now? He got bombed out of the

team because Casey Stoner came in last year from Repsol Honda, moved

to Yamaha. I like him, a fast rider, but he is not the most exciting guy

out there. He is not very flamboyant I guess you would say.

You had a factory right, you were not that exciting. But I was good

looking! No what I am told! The fans love Valentino here, but did

it here so is the top Italian rider now and has proven it week on week.

He is consistent and very good. The problem is he is not one of the

greats and if you are a Yamaha, Honda, you won one of the great,

you want Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Lorenzo. Somebody who will

really tear it up. Only one when I guess for the podium stats,

probably the one that counts, isn't it? And there was a long time ago.

-- that was. He is a great ride and kept Cal Crutchlow honest this year.

Dani Pedrosa is on pole and on a roll after last week and his

victory in Germany. He is. In fairness it was not really his poll.

It was Lorenzo's that he had terrible trouble. That aside, he is

going quickly. He really has the bike sorted. We know Dani Pedrosa

is very quick at this circuit but that poll that was kind of handed

to him in a way by Lorenzo's problem... Lorenzo to go short cut,

he was fed up of people following him around, and the bike lost where

it was. Motorcycles know by the computer on board where it is on

the track, it knows it passes certain Beacons, but it lost itself.

So when he went for his lap, the bike thought it was on another part

of the track. They should have come in and reset it. But I think he

would have got pole position. three-quarters of the latter

through he was still provisional pole. A expected him to be on pole

because it was a free practice, but we did not expect another Spaniard,

Hector Barbera. Where did that come from? It was astounding. He is

riding a bike that Rossi didn't want, Hayden didn't want, he stuck

the thing on the front row. Nicky Hayden is behind him, but even so...

They all said that bike was no good. It is behind us there. That was the

one they rejected but he is so fast down the straight, you look at him,

he is generally the fastest. miles an hour. It incredible.

Ducati is a straight line monster. -- incredible. Hector has had

criticism for following riders but he said that up on his own so

interesting to see what he does today. This is the first time we

have had three Spanish riders on the front row and you can imagine

the delight among the Spanish and media centre after they beat Italy

in the European Championship finals. Three Spaniards on the front row at

the home of the Italian riders wear all the pressure is on them, there

are so much more demand when you race at your home Grand Prix. We

found that out with Cal Crutchlow and also where Stefan Bradl was

He is a great guy with a big heart. We like people like that. I rate

him higher than I have seen in my career, including myself. You have

to have a local hero, without one, it is hard. Our ratings are good

and growing. It is only because of A busy weekend for you, I know you

have a triple the amount of press to do? It is like that. That is

normal for a rider if you ride to a home GP, especially now for me in

the MotoGP class. The first time I was here was 10 years ago, it has

been the first time for me in a MotoGP race. There was cheering for

Valentino Rossi and those guys, so now I am there in that situation

and that means a lot to me. I feel a little bit proud because I can

say I did it, achieved it. That means a lot to me and is something

special. How do you feel about her you settled? It feels good. It is

better than expected. It is a big learning process. The only thing

which is not perfect is always arriving to your circuit which is

not new for me but with the GP bike on the other side it is new for me.

If you want to fight for a good result with these guys out there

you have to be everything, 100%, you have to find a good electronic

bass setting and these things, you need to go so fast to find a good

set-up. Then the weekend is over and the racism front of you. It is

not always easy but so far we can COMMENTATOR: Stefan Brundle has

finished 5th, nice work from him. Despite the distractions and a busy

schedule, Stefan managed to get his best result. You manage to turn the

home race into an advantage. Yes, it was a tough race for me. It was

so difficult. Ducatis were behind me and also Valentino, it was not

easy. But I finished 5th which is a good result and I am very happy

about that. Hopefully you can keep the momentum going this weekend?

Hopefully. We did a good step on a Isaksson ring and hopefully we can

continue in that race. Especially in that way coming closer to the

top, the second group with Crutchlow and Dovizioso. We did a

good job overall and hopefully we can kick that until the end of the

season and do the next step. handled the media attention

perfectly that we can, good luck this weekend. A brilliant fifth

place for Stefan in Germany. He lines up eights on the grid here at

Mugello. We have his crew chief here with me. How is Stefan

looking? He has been struggling a bit on Friday but it is like a new

track for him and a different motorcycle. Yesterday he made a

good step, started to feel much better on the bike. We have been

improving over the weekend and he should be in good shape. You need

to have a good start and be able to stay with them for a few laps, and

then we know it is going to be a tough race. Thank you very much.

The first time for Stefan on this bike at this track. It is a very

different track and a real challenge, not just for the riders

but also the engineers. Last week in Germany, we were at one of the

shortest tracks we go to in the series. Mugello is one of the

longest but it is the longest straight. This is a downhill exit

in second gear. The guys will be going up to six and probably about

220, maybe 225 miles an hour. I have a stop watch, I am going to

walk it, I am interested to see what they do it in. Three minutes

25 and I am barely halfway. I can't wait to see how long they are going

to take. I can feel a cup of tea coming on. OK, here we go. It took

me about three-and-a-half minutes to walk it. This is Valentino Rossi.

How about that? 5 1/2 seconds. You have just managed to squeeze

the last couple of miles an hour out of the bike. It is the longest

braking area we go to all season, over 300 metres, 1.6 gees on the

break. It has caught quite a lot of people out. The key to going fast,

and we are talking speeds of 100 mph, is not necessarily engine

power. What it is all about is making yourself small and

aerodynamic. You have to tuck yourself in, getting your head

right underneath, so the air is coming over the top of the screen,

over the Hamed and flowing out the back. Then it is about keeping a --

over the helmet. Then it is about keeping your elbows and knees

tucked in, everything has to be out of the flow of the air. The smaller

riders are rider -- lighter but have a small frontal area. If you

get that sorted out you will be fast down the straights.

There is nobody smaller on the grid than Dani Pedrosa and he set

opposition for the second time this year. He is now looking for back-

to-back wins after the victory at a week ago. He we were hoping to grab

a word with Jorge Lorenzo but it looks like he is running off for a

toilet break. If you swing back around, it don't worry, I am not

lost. Here we go. We are going to grab Jorge Lorenzo's hero, Max be

achieved. He is an Italian legend himself, having a crack -- a chat

with Jorge Lorenzo's crew chief. Excuse me, gentlemen. Max... A

quick word for the BBC, it is good to see you back on a MotoGP grid

again. How does it feel to be at Mugello once more fun Italian Grand

Prix and not be racing? My home Grand Prix. You had some good

times? Yes. It is my first time in seven years to watch a MotoGP race.

I am here because Jorge Lorenzo invited me to come. He said please

come and I come. It is great news, there was fear is a bit different

compared to Superbikes but I still love this place. Here are still

doing very well in Superbikes. You're a hero Fort Dodge Lorenzo.

What do you make of the level of his performance? -- you are a hero

for Jorge Lorenzo. I've think he still has a margin to improve.

can always make small changes and improve a little, he can still

improve. He is still one of the fastest every time. He has already

been world champion. He in his career, at Dani Pedrosa, Casey

Stoner, they have a big potential. I enjoy watching them in the race

of course. But now it is my first time live and I want to see how it

feels. Great to see back, and you are proof we can keep improving and

that no matter how old we are. course. We are promised a hint --

an almighty scrap nearer the back. Yes. We are going to be speaking to

one of them for the first time this year. Had a bit of a tough start to

this season, change Cheshire East - - changed chassis a few tonnes. How

are you feeling for be raised today? My feeling on the bike is

better for this race. The setting up of the bike is better. It is

possible to have a good race today. Good luck. We were chatting to Ivan

yesterday, he was very nervous about that interview, he is still

learning English. The things you don't see on TV. These guys are

more nervous about an interview than the actual race. One of the

home CRT riders who, at Michele Pirro. It has been a tough weekend,

he has qualified just behind the two approach Leah Aspars. How are

you feeling about fighting with the two bikes him front? Not an easy

race because they are very fast. I try to follow him, I hope for a

good race, this is my home race. Many people come from my home and I

Jorge Lorenzo is making his way back, let's see if we can grab him.

They are very quick word, you were frustrated to be second, but you

must be confident with your place? We had a problem in the last lap of

the qualifying. It was a bit of discomfort but there is no problem

for the race. We are excited to have a good race, we will see what

happens. Dani Pedrosa is also strong here. Thanks for talking to

us. Very good of him. Let's look at Hector Barbera. The heartbeat is up

to 180 before the race even starts. Hector Barbera has told us he

doesn't feel like talking, his English is not the best either.

Going through his final mental preparations for this very

important race. Hector is the top Ducati, it is the first time a

privateer Ducati has ever been on the front row. Last year Nicky

Hayden was the top Ducati on the grid and he was 9th fastest. It is

an important turnaround. Can we have a quick word with his crew

chief? The top Ducati last year was 9th, now two on the top four, is

this real progress? The Mugello is normally a place where we are

testing. In the last few races we have been able to find a good

position on the grid. I hope we can start to confirm the consistency in

the race and I hope we can get a good result for the fans. All the

We haven't had time to mention Cal Crutchlow. He is on the outside of

the second row in sixth place, it is his worst qualifying performance,

other than last on the grid at Silverstone when he had to start

from the back. Casey Stoner is 5th, his equal worse start of the season.

Struggling a bit in the long Nicky Hayden, his best position

since Jerez. Plenty to keep our eyes on, it looks like it could be

a two-way battle for the win. The final podium position could be wide

open. It sure could. I think with Hector being where he is, he might

get a nose bleed. It is scary, that rarefied atmosphere. The first term

is the place where they can really get caught out. There is the

straight you're talking about. Over 200 miles an hour, pushing 220, it

is awesome, the speed. absolutely is. It climbs back up

the hill. Then it is the drop down through Casanova, but it is

absolutely brilliant. We were talking about Lorenzo's bike losing

itself around the track, they trigger themselves on each of these

segments. It doesn't show the cut through but there is one behind the

CAB paddock, that is what he did and that is why the bike lost

itself. How trust you to know where the short cut is! Sector three is

where the Rossi fans have congregated and this is the last

sector. If you are right behind somebody at the end of a lap, you

have a big decision, stuff it down the inside or draft him down the

main straight. It is a long way to the start and finish line.

gorgeous shot of the circuit in the Tuscany hillside. Just above

Florence, it is about 26 degrees. I think Dani Pedrosa or will be into

the first turn first, but I think Jorge Lorenzo will be the man at

the end of this. 23 gruelling laps around here. They should be quite

interesting. Most of the guys are going for the hard rear tyre. Every

biker is going for the hard fronts look. It's Casey Stoner -- hard

front slick. Casey Stoner has gone for the special constructions tyre,

When we were in the pit lane, I was talking to the tyre man and he said,

I don't think anybody will, it is not hot enough. I guess with no

real mark, he has decided to roll real mark, he has decided to roll

could not sort it out. They could not get it working on the fast

corners. It should be a cracking race. A big drag down to the tricky

first corner. The brakes are core, the carbon discs, you have never

practised the run into that -- the Five degrees lower than the

Bridgestone man recommends. Matt mentioned Cal Crutchlow. He had a

crash in qualifying which very much interrupted his flow. Under these

circumstances, not a bad effort. They are extraordinarily close. All

of the lap times. The first two Rose, up to and including Cal

Crutchlow, covered by four-tenths of a second. That is why the

portents are good for a good grace. Cal Crutchlow did extremely good.

He bumped himself up and scraped onto the second row. 64,000 people

have turned up to watch the racing. It is a very lean crowd for here.

Not as big as it has been. Fireworks going off, there will be

fireworks when they get under way. They have sorted out the road

traffic situations. I can remember queueing for an hour and a half to

come in but it seems to have been sorted out. By the euro crisis, I

think you will find, no one can afford to come. One or two people

have ditched their cars and come on last long corner. You can see what

we were referring to there. It is tantalising for these guys and that

is 0.7 of a mile and I reckon they have about 0.3 or four. Dani

Pedrosa's trip to get this Honda off the line, I do not know. Hector

Barbera will be nervous, his first ever from the start in MotoGP.

spoke to one of the bosses before the race, he was very nervous and

said he could do watch. It is great for those guys down the road in

Florence. We are ready for the race at Mugello. They are away. Good

start from Lorenzo. A screamer from but Rosa. -- Pedrosa. Like number

four gets in, it almost comes together with Nicky Hayden on the

first of the factory Ducatis. was interesting because Lorenzo got

the better start by Dani Pedrosa powered away and out cellaret --

out accelerated him. A good start from No. 6, Stefan Bradl. Ben Spies

behind him. Lorenzo, but Rosa, now Dovizioso in second place, a big

move from him. That was impressive from Dovizioso. An amazing kick-off

from him. He laid on the brakes, confident with it. He is a belt

around the brakes, that proved it. Stoner will take some time to get

heat on a rear tyres are expected to drop black -- back and maybe

be in that bunch there. If you pick a stone tyre it will take a while

to warm it up and he will want to be prudent after what happened last

week. Stefan Bradl lunging past Hayden. Hayden saying don't think

about it. A bit of movement from him as he taps on the power to get

down and across the Strait for the Stefan Bradl on the LCR Honda,

great stuff. Nicky Hayden in front of the home crowd, there are so

many Ducati fans here this weekend and some of the hierarchy here. He

is fighting for his job, he wants to stay with Ducati, they like him

and they like the American passport where they sell a lot of bikes.

Tremendous stuff, Nicky Hayden clinging on to fourth position. All

over the back of this is Stefan Bradl. Cal Crutchlow just behind

Ben Spies. Was there not a loose chain last race? The chain is

stretching, something is giving on the system and jumping the

the TT, so it is something they are putting power out but it needs to

be sorted out, chains do not generally a stretched these days.

Down to the right hander now. Lorenzo Leeds and looks comfortable.

Stoner needs to get past Barbera, many times out there, Stoner is

true. That did the job nice and easy. We saw Hector Barbera doing

exactly that in qualifying, ringing the neck of the bike but it nearly

deep rooted him right off. Pushing 220, 342 case, more than 110 miles

corner. We saw with Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow, the tremendous race

they had for pole position, Dovizioso is laid on the brakes. He

Lorenzo. That is only about a second of qualifying. Hayden popped

in the fastest lap there. With the clear air in front of him, once

things settle and temperatures come up, it is about time they do, the

bike should be nice and settled, Lorenzo should be as well, he had a

comfort break just before getting on the bike. He now has to reel off

those laps, 21 of them remaining. This is the moment he runs. That is

Ellison on the right, Silva on the jump-start? -- wife. Back to the

fund, Lorenzo has half a second league as we go over the line. That

is where they reach maximum speed, just as the bike goes light over

the top, you have to try to get it stopped. Ben Spies going all the

way back there. Cal Crutchlow got a bad drop on the start there. He

started six on the second row. There is the flag for Pirro. Rossi

past Cal Crutchlow. We have not seen that happen for a while.

will not find Pirro standing on the trackside with but a black flag

because he is in the pits. Down the hill, Lorenzo is still being

pursued pretty hard by Dovizioso. Maybe Pirro changed bikes and

should not have. I think that is mainly what happened. -- maybe.

Perhaps he took the short cut. He does not have your strategy book

but he has taken a short cut, they don't like that so maybe the black

flag Tim. -- that they black flag him. -- they black flagged him. A

cracking ride from Stefan Bradl. Rossi is on a roll. In front of all

his fans, there are plenty of them, Valentino Rossi is on the charge. -

- chart. He has moved up to eight Dovizioso. Get that thing stopped

somehow. Rossi likes the heart tyre, not a soft, so he did not qualify

so well but he thought he could do better in the race. We have seen

him perform so many -- perform better so many times. The fastest

because they away under the lap record but was here. A big lunch by

Dani Pedrosa, that is really showing intent. -- lunch. -- lunge.

He can see that Lorenzo is getting with half a second league last time.

Stefan Bradl has a quick look there. He is riding superbly well. First

year in MotoGP. He is the reigning MotoGP champion and he has made the

adaption to MotoGP, bearing in mind you add another 100 brake horse

speed, double the horsepower you are normally used to. You can see a

legal manoeuvre from Pirro, he went in, went back out, which is not

allowed -- illegal. I have known people do that in go-kart racing.

starting the gap. Dani Pedrosa will try and dropped off Dovizioso. Dani

Pedrosa did not lead Dovizioso pass other big stop at the end there. He

has now got three-quarters of a lap to try to pull a bit of an

advantage out there. Valentino Rossi still in eighth place. Hector

Barbera doing a good job. He has started on the front row but

dropped back to seventh position. The guys behind him are lapping

faster than him. It was worth a try. How did you think no one would

notice, mate?! He pulled him, maybe that was his short cut, who knows?

-- pulled in. So he does not even get to do laps in front of his home

crowd. I can remember this situation kind of happening last

Poor old Hector was right up their run-in with the hounds but is now

back in a more natural place but still nothing to be ashamed of.

Dani Pedrosa is pulling it up nice there. He gets it stopped, it gets

it turned, now the gap has gone up seventh place, Cal Crutchlow right

behind him on the same tent. They are just in the next shot so there

is this group, starting with Dani Pedrosa, ending with Stefan Bradl.

Just around the corner will come Rossi and Cal Crutchlow. Down the

hill we go. Past the old Max Biaggi towards this part. You can hear the

Honda more than the Yamaha. Both have a built-in sound running in

comfortable now. Still in the first third of this race but even so it

is starting to take shape. Spies has real issues going on. The

lap before that was a 52, what on earth is happening to that man? The

American next World Superbike Champion with so much potential. It

just is not happening for him. I don't know what is going on. He is

in 11th place at the moment. Maybe he needs a silver short cut? --

Silva short cut? As you can see, Cal Crutchlow, bike number 35, is

very much in touch with Valentino Rossi who will prove a hard fellow

to pass. If you do you probably get things done are you from the

stands! -- are thrown at you. This is the best we have seen from him.

Puniet it, so he has not just lost his way but has some sort of

mechanical problem. Let's see if we can see what is going on. His body

language says he is cruising. on earth is going on? He will

surely pit shortly and we will get information from the crew. Be just

the position of Ben's crisis with the fact his team-mate is romping

away makes it more paintball -- the juxtaposition. Makes it more

painful. Unless things turnaround there will be looking in other

directions. There has been talk about Dovizioso, why has he not got

a factory bike, he is doing enough about him going to Ducati, he could

be Rossi's team-mate next year, he has to be careful he doesn't brush

past him. At the moment they are place. The man to keep a close eye

on will be Casey Stoner. Well that keep -- help the harder tyre he has

gone for? He has caught up to Nicky Hayden. The last lap, he was...

There is Stefan Bradl's dad. Stefan is doing him proud. So go and

Stoner get it all up? Yes he can. - Lorenzo has responded with a 47.843.

They are getting faster and faster. Stoner is a 48.3. 47.8 would have

put him eighth in qualifying. Extraordinary. Bradl has gone

through to third place. Stefan Bradl, now up into third place.

Look at that. Some positioned to be in, in your rookie season in MotoGP,

with this sort of company all- around. That would be a cracker, an

astounding performance. We have seen how good Dovizioso was on the

brakes. This time, the team are bouncing around in the garage.

Bradl, very strong. Edwards has retired. What sort of season is

that man having? Probably out of boredom, I would have thought. He

is having such a rough time with that bike, he is at the blunt end

of the grid, he qualified on the back row. Go he has now rejoined

the race. Oh, no, I don't believe it. Stoner is off the track. It is

starting to close those guys down, it was becoming a very interesting.

I was about to say, what sort of lap time will be he putting in.

is not good news sport Casey Stoner. -- for Casey Stoner. The fastest

lap now, Pedrosa. Is there into that corner. That is dropping

down the hill. He has been complaining about not being able to

tenth position. This championship is stumbling away from him, let

alone the race. This is extraordinary. Hernandez has

crashed out. It is all happening at the moment. I think he has

remounted somewhere. We have lost Hernandez, Edwards, but at sea, it

Pirro, he -- Petruzzi and Pierrot. This is the unforced error capital

of the motor-racing rogue -- wall, we can get a full measure as sweet

cross the line. The -- as we cross the line. He has responded. One-

tenth of a second faster for Lorenzo. These two have cleared

away from the pack. That's Hernandez. That team at Avintia has

a magnificent set up and these guys are showing well on the CRT class,

but he tastes the tarmac too often. The growl of the Yamaha. But 1.4,

single practice session. By an element of comfort. As we were

saying, would have been fastest in qualifying, had he not at that

technical glitch. This really does going to nail the championship. It

is going to give him a level of comfort. Dani had close the gap a

little bit. He had leapfrogged Casey and was not far adrift. 14

points in front. It will be another five if they finish in this order.

Stefan Bradl, meantime, still hanging on to third. That would be

a very exciting result. Hector Barbera, the qualifying star, is

eighth. Cal Crutchlow is right weekend but it didn't turn up until

late. They were trying to get more flecks in the chassis. Talk of the

possibility of changing from BMW it lease bike. Good -- a customer a

bike. What is the difference between the relative satellite

speck of bike number six, and the Yamaha of Dovizioso? He got a lot

when you change formulas, as we have done this year. -- not a lot

bikes pretty much start the season equal. The customer at machines. I

know that the factory bikes, including Pedrosa's and its owner's

-- and Stoner's have had the odd change. We have at the introduction

of the New Bridge don't compound, one or two of the teams have found

it difficult -- the new Bridgestone Bradl and Bautista will have just

the chassis that they started the season with. The big sometimes

filters down to the customer machines. -- it sometimes doctors.

Cal Crutchlow is all over the back of it Valentino Rossi. It that is

the battle for sixth place. many times have we seen Valentino

qualify 10th and finished 6th. He makes up time on the track but he

will not make up time to beat Pedrosa. We thought he would be the

best of the Ducatis at the end. He is about three seconds back on

Nicky Hayden. Last time around he Jorge Lorenzo. Number 99, the 25-

year-old, born in the yoghurt, now lives in Barcelona. -- born in

Majorca. He gets himself buried underneath. The front wheel comes

up in the air. The Dovizioso Pass What is that about? That was a big

pass from Spies, down the rumble strip on the outside. We were

riding with Casey Stoner and it was remarkable how many people were

passing. What was going on with Ben Spies? Whatever the issue is, he is

sort of riding around it. There must still be some problems because

he would normally be two seconds a lap faster than Jorge Lorenzo. We

will not find out until he comes into the pits at the end of the

race. The Ben Spies, still running into wealth. He will still pick up

fishing in. Repudiate is the leading CRT machine -- de Puniet 8

us Braga, he is normally stronger. championship, by dint of crashing

in Holland, he didn't get many points. He has been chipping away,

getting better and better. In Germany, the fifth place was his

best result so far, only a week ago. He is in ninth but only three

points behind Nicky Hayden on the Ducati. He can cover himself with

glory today. There is Nicky Hayden. We just got a glimpse of Valentino

Rossi and Cal Crutchlow. The Jupiter it is a scooter to be sold

in Malaysia. They have some of them important to these manufacturers.

cc engines produce the same sort of powers. There is the number night

in a machine of Jorge Lorenzo. great jump from Jorge but Pedrosa

was always going to get to the first corner first. Couldn't quite

hang it together. The move by Dovizioso was sublime. He came from

seventh, up into third by it better Stoner, who is lapping

approximately a second of a lap faster. It should be a reasonably

third cash -- crash. Crashes here are damaging, particularly because

everything is so fast. Now you are riding with Cal Crutchlow. He lifts

his bottom out of that seek to get that aerodynamics we talk about. It

gets an airflow over the top of the helmet, out the back of the

motorcycle, it leads the airflow through the back quicker. Factory

Honda against standard Honda. There you go. Nothing in it. I think

Casey Stoner has some great issues. if you have nasty reference chatter

into a corner you cannot go into them fast. Because you what they're

trying to run in to place, aren't Bautista's bike. Cal Crutchlow was

in the toe from Valentino Rossi it all the way down. We know this is

Ducati's test track, they have been more times than you have been to

work this year, Charlie! They know the track into money and test all

the teams staying on Monday and then Ducati stayed for another

three days of testing with the test riders. I asked one of the top guys

here today would they be making changes to the bike with the engine

for Laguna's sake and they said it depended on the tests here this

week. There are some big changes to be tried here, for wonder, too.

This should now be passed to stone. Not a great difference in

performance but you would have thought the factory machine would

be faster. It is a touch. He has the wrong side of the track.

Battista later on the brakes again. I would say that is today --... The

that is allowed? You often see that from Casey Stoner. If anyone did

that to him I would not want to hear the ramifications. He has been

run out of there, has gone up the inside and got it a bit wrong. That

was a very nasty brass. -- pass. Both of them did well to cling on

six remaining. It will be five to go for him to extend his lead today

betrays in the championship if it stays at it is. -- as it is. Short

of a problem for Lorenzo, who has thoroughly broken Dani Pedrosa now.

He is holding through for -- to form. A stellar performance from

Stefan Bradl, you have to will him across the line. It would be so

good for that seemed to get a podium. Dovizioso is on the trail

there. Three podiums in the last four races. He has the experience

and is starting to really bring pressure on now. The young German

is still learning his way around the circuit on a bike like this.

This will stretch the Repsol team with Lorenzo pulling away, Dani

Pedrosa will pull away, Casey Stoner as well. We cannot talk

enough about this man here. First season in MotoGP, the star of the

future. There is Hayden and there is Valentino Rossi, poor old Cal

Crutchlow still chewing away behind him. Corner for corner he is

probably being held up by Rossi but he can't get his way past. The pair

speed, but don't go knocking the sea to get the flow over the

back. -- Rossi lift. -- Rossi lifts machine. Dovizioso has a big

Goldsmith there but not quite close in saving the tyres and managing

the back end of the race on one of these things than Stefan Bradl is.

Rossi has Nicky Hayden in his sights. They are closing. They have

three-and-a-half laps to go. Stefan Bradl actually has the corner speed.

It is down in the braking zones that Dovizioso is so strong. On the

long stuff, Stefan Bradl really has the measure of it. Great to see.

Really good. The UN and the old in this game. -- young than the old in

this game. -- younger and the old. Crutchlow really tried to carry the

outside line there but just could not get to this last corner first.

You have to try to pick with you get down the inside of a blog pass.

In would be futile because if he got past him, Valentino would just

sailed past him. Here is Dovizioso. Can Stefan Bradl cutback, or has he

trajectory for Stefan Bradl, he is good at it, it is just the braking.

He is late on the brakes but still stops. This is something we

marvelled at in Germany last weekend, how good he is at the

initial part of breaking. Very smooth, always finishes with a good

motorbike. It will be interesting to see whether Stefan Bradl was

delaying him, whether he can clear off, only three laps left. Stefan

Bradl is not done with. Nicky Hayden has 46 and 35 looming, they

That lost him ground. Nicky Hayden -- over Hector Barbera. He has made

Lorenzo. Someone touring at the chat as they come out of the

corners. It is difficult. This is like sitting on your washing

machine with it out of balance on the spin cycle, not the you have

ever been on a washing machine, Charlie! Down the hill we go. It is

six seconds back to Dani Pedrosa. Dovizioso and Stefan Bradl are

locked in a tight tussle. How that would have been surprised to find

himself in front of Casey Stoner by this drop. Rossi and Cal Crutchlow

have caught up Hayden, so this is so close. We could do with another

five laps. The camera man got lost there. Here we go... Hayden is

really interested in this battle. Yamaha, Honda, Ducati. He is on a

big run, almost close enough to Stefan Bradl to go for it. What can

Nicky Hayden do out of here? He is pressing on. If he could get this

torpedo up and into fourth place he would be the hero. Straight through.

Dan Stefan Bradl get back around him? No! Stefan Bradl is not taking

this lying down. He will hit the grass. Straight past the boss.

Valentino Rossi, side by side, that will get the crowd's attention.

That was unfortunate for Nicky Hayden, he did everything possible

but Stefan Bradl came back with a strong move on him and pushed him

back. The crowd will be screening here. What can Cal Crutchlow do

now? He was trying to get a bit of the table. He just wasn't quite

close enough. This guy... Sublime run from him. He is already waving,

that is not a good idea. In view Valentino Rossi but he played it

beautifully, got to the inside. Stefan Bradl is still trying to

work his way past Dovizioso. Cal Crutchlow got past. He has to get

to the line first. I am sure we got past Nicky Hayden in that final

corner. Lorenzo has one. Then Pedrosa, then did it CO so, just

did it. Cal Crutchlow got past Nicky Hayden. Talk about a good

play out of luck. Valentino Rossi finishes 5th. To mend his

performance. 11 seconds back from the lead, Casey Stoner comes over

the line now in at eight. They will be some paperwork in the on the

garage on his side. They will teach Lorenzo to lead by so much! -- that

just happily back past Randy De Puniet, the leading CRT man. Ben

Spies has salvaged 11th, a minute, call it, 57.8 seconds behind. Nice

work from Espargaro, who were mentioned was in trouble but he has

done well and worked his way back up just in front of James Ellison

there. A cracking ride from him. Boral Nicky. You have to feel for

for the future. But this boy is something for the present. Boy, he

did it. A poor start for Cal Crutchlow penalise him. He had good

lap times and had proved he could catch up with people. His data on

the second row. -- he started. You can't give these guys any head room.

Too often Cal Crutchlow has had a race long battle and been stuck

fastest lap of the race. I don't want to be in that garage, I don't

know what went on the there. Poor old Casey Stoner, he tried the hard

tyre, maybe he pay the price. -- paid the price. You would never

want to do that to anyone but I think he misjudged it. There was a

big gold shoulder shove and it was a big move from Bradl on Nicky

reliable. He is 4th in the championship, and a very solid 4th.

I said he wasn't one of the greats, maybe I am being harsh, maybe he

has potential. Lorenzo is one of the greats. Dani Pedrosa, doing

big park. A great result for them. -- a big park. He came so close to

being on the podium. It was fantastic work. It was

tantalisingly close but he kept his Nicky Hayden as well, quite an

achievement. Nicky Hayden almost puppets as well. I think he could

do anything he wants at the moment! I think they call it a black mamba,

don't they? Dovizioso. Very solid from him. Steady and reliable. Four

from him. Steady and reliable. Four podiums out of five. That is really

getting on with it. Cal Crutchlow finished in sixth, three-tenths

behind Valentino Rossi, just couldn't get shot of it. What about

Lorenzo, a win at Qatar, second in Spain, second in Portugal, a win in

Catalunya, a win in the UK, a crash in Holland. Which wasn't his fault

at all. Now a second in Germany and another win, what a season he is

He has got a rest next again, as we have. -- next weekend. We move on

to the US Grand Prix in Laguna Seca. I am baffled about what happened to

watch for Cal Crutchlow. He got off the line badly, too many people got

past him. He is alongside Bautista, way back. That was his race. That

is what caught him up. Everyone getting tangled meant that he

dropped three places. He was out wide as well. Yes, the wide line is

Confirming the results. Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Dovizioso. That is the

I reckon Dani Pedrosa won't be disappointed. A win last week,

second place this week, good times? Yes. We did a good job. It was

difficult with a Jorge at that pace. When I get the rhythm, I heat up my

rear tyre a lot. I started to have a lot of chattering. It was so

difficult. I couldn't catch him. Today he was stronger. Overall, a

good moment. Let's try to continue in the next race like this. I think

we are doing good. But we have to push hard. Congratulations. A thank

The traditional track invasion has started here. Despite the fact that

Valentino is not on the podium. He is as close to it as he has been.

This is not particularly something we like to see, public motorcycles

on a circuit, guy is doing doughnuts and burnouts. It does

make for a unique atmosphere, imagine what the place would be

like if Valentino was on the podium. He wasn't far away from it in the

end. He wasn't. I am scratching my head about the move from Nicky

Hayden. It was really worth a try. He was lucky to avoid the grass. In

doing so, he that Stefan Bradl off the hook. He was marked by

Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow thought he would have a bit of that

as well. He had to make the pass a tenth. Nicky was 4th until a minute

from the end. It is absolute bedlam down here. I am not even sure if

you can hear me. There are guys with a chainsaw engines and alarms,

we have the Teletubbies are here. They are trying to climb over the

Congratulations, the black mamba helmet and leathers are doing well.

A 5th win of the season. Yes. The helmet has given us a bit of luck.

We did not have read at the Sachsenring. Here we have been

positive and focused -- we did not have it at the Sachsenring. Little

by little, I was confident, I was making 47. Then a little gap, and I

have been more quiet. Congratulations. Thank you, I am

very happy. I bet he is. We will get your thoughts in just a second.

I think we have Andreea Dovizioso. Four Odeon so out of five races.

You can't really do much more -- four podiums out of. I am very

happy. To be on the podium in this race is a dream. I am really happy,

we work really hard. At the beginning, I believe I can try to

stay with Lorenzo but he was a few tents faster. But I am really happy,

thank you to the team. -- a few tenths farce that. Congratulations.

This isn't bothering you? One to noise? Who let's all of these

people in, how do you get your motorcycle on the track? Some of

them should not be allowed on the road. Not many signs of competent

riding. There was some very impressive performances, not least

from Jorge Lorenzo. He was a subliminal today, he went out and

did his job. He took a while to get things sorted out but it was

terrific, a really good. Dovizioso in third place, what a ride from

him. All the pressure that we talked about before the race on the

home riders, and he delivered. wants a factory right and with his

performance today, he should get one. Let's have a look at him

moment where a third place was He gets on the brakes so hard and

so late. That is not your alarm going off? This is playing havoc.

Look at those trophies, I am not sure we're going to have time for

the full podium ceremony on BBC Two. One your Red Buttons we have half

an hour of MotoGP extra -- on at your Red Buttons. We will try to

get a word with Stefan Gradel. -- Stefan Bradl. What a performance.

Ex- draw American are his first year in MotoGP -- extraordinary. A

great performance, and you know he is going to be a big star of the

feature. -- future. It has a contract at LCR Honda. We saw

champagne being sprayed in the pit COMMENTATOR: I am quite relaxed

appear, it is about 95 decibels in the commentary box, as opposed to

where you guys are. That is a more outrageous set of noise than we

have heard in the pit lane for a long time. It is another big day

for Yamaha. First factory bike, first satellite bike. Sandwiching

Dani Pedrosa in the middle. 185 points for Lorenzo, 166 for Pedrosa.

He is well within a race win's gap. Casey Stoner, back on 148. This is

the halfway point of the championship. It is looking like

Lorenzo's years so far. It's certainly is. He wrote with Jupiter

on the back of his leathers and it seemed like he was on a different

planet at times. The road trip is over in Europe after seven races in

nine weekends. Next up is the US GP in California. With the time