San Marino MotoGP

It is almost one year since the tragic death of a Marco Simoncelli.

This weekend the MotoGP championships travels to his local

track. Just six miles from his family home. Everyone is paying

tribute to him this weekend, and for 16 of us, this right started

There have been some fun parts. Day three, we are in a shed. Look at

this. And there have been some sort Between us we have done 1200 miles

in the company of legends. The last few of them, it in the company of

Today, it is their chance to pay tribute in the way that Marco

Great memories of a truly great rider. But a warm welcome to you to

the aptly named -- named Stadium. This is a great friend of a Marco

Simoncelli's family, the 1993 world champion. It has been an emotional

return for everyone. It really has. To have cycled all the way here and

get to see most of the Grand Prix paddock out there, it made it even

more emotional. It is fair to say that when you come to the circuit,

you can see the legacy that Marco Simoncelli has left behind. The

passion for him from the fans and for MotoGP in general. Absolutely.

He is not someone we will easily forget. Are you looking forward to

the racing today? I am. We have had some really good racing so far, I

am not sure who is going to win. It is between the three for four guys.

It will be a close one. We also remember another rider who lost his

life two years ago. Daijiro Katoh. The best way to pay tribute is to

see some brilliant riding. It does not get much closer than two weeks

I knew I had a good chance to go for the win. I wanted to be close.

The this could go either way, it is wide open. I was studying the good

and bad points of my driving. knew it was difficult to pass him

on the breaking. Even though I knew he could attack, I knew I could

attack back if necessary. You just watch the screens, that is all you

can do in the last lap. I knew there would be a chance for him, I

tried to block everywhere. It was a tense moment for the team. I had to

overtake on the corner. I'd just left the small room in one corner.

I close my eyes and said, I am going to make it. It was a surprise,

and at the same time, it made me more tense and aggressive. I

immediately wanted to go back in front. I was thinking, just hold on.

I tried to pass him on the next corner, but there was no room.

knew he had so much power appeal. It was difficult to stay in first

position. It was a big chance for me in that point. I went well out

of the previous chicane. I knew he was also very strong in the last

stages of the race. I wanted to you just go for it. I knew I could

get around at the last corner, but I was not sure. Pure emotion really.

The best part was one I saw my team-mates celebrating. When I see

them going crazy. I have never seen him battle like that before. This

There could be even better moments to come for a Dani Pedrosa if he

keeps up his current form. There are six races to go. For 25 points

There was little to separate those two yesterday in qualifying. Once

again, it was Dani Pedrosa who came out to take pole position. Who else

should join them on the front row of the grid than the man who joined

them on the podium. Britain's Cal Crutchlow. A first podium for

Britain in over a decade. His next target is a win, and we have not

first podium in MotoGP and he has got it. You have got to admit, it

is great to have a British person on the podium. I have begun this

It is so good for Cal Crutchlow and the British poss of -- British

public. It was not lack in any way. Cal Crutchlow has turned it all

around. If you look at the times as well, he did not inherited.

Crutchlow has changed quite dramatically. He went into the

winter after having had a hard first year. He came out of it and

for some reason he seemed a more relaxed. It was like he was going

on holiday to the same place. He was at ease with his environment.

This year I think it is a big achievement. He is fifth in the

world and really in touch. If you plot it on a graph it is a good

trajectory. And he is about to get more points than anyone else. We

had a wonderful period of time way back, even before my time, then we

had the great Barry Sheene. Then we went on and other guys came along

doing good jobs. But truthfully, Cal Crutchlow is confident enough

to carry on and be on this podium regularly. If I am pleased he did

not get the Ducati rider. The Yamaha is better for him. You know

what you're getting with a Yamaha, it sits well with him. He has been

on the circuit before in things other than MotoGP. And there is a

possibility that Valentino Rossi has joined -- as Valentino Rossi

has joined. He is a character. is a character and he is on display

in a good shopper. And no better display than standing on the podium.

Talking of which... We're not going to drink it! Let's be a bit

Who let those two idiots mere alcohol when they are supposed to

be working? Some great names from British racing in that the teeth.

Among them, at Neil McKenzie. Seven podiums for you. It it is great to

see someone take that mantle over. Absolutely. Who knows what could

have happened at Silverstone if he did not get injured. By have got

some trivial records and I would love to see Cal Crutchlow

obliterate them. We know he is disappointed to have missed out on

the Ducati rider for next year -- factory Ducati right for next year.

How far can he going MotoGP? the way. He has been so close to

winning races, who knows what equipment it he will get next year.

It seems he has been very close this year and with a little bit of

luck he could win one this year. Who knows? I am much happier he is

back in the same teams. It would have been a massive risk to take

the Ducati factory ride. I am the biggest Valentino Rossi fan in the

world and he could not make it happen. The Yamaha love him, he has

a fantastic team around him and he is familiar with the bike. Let's

hope they put it all behind them for next year. Who knows what might

come up next year. Yes. It is the right decision for sure. The we

have got Cal Crutchlow and James Ellison representing Britain but we

have a third research as well. Jonny Hay replacing Casey Stoner.

It is a huge challenge for the Northern Irish man. He knows he is

very much in the shop window for a end this weekend. You have just

come from Superbikes, you had a few tumbles but I presume you're fit

and well. Getting all of these for the first time. Add dream come

true? Yes. My hero was Kevin sworn, and he raced here. In the back of

my head I have to remember I am a replacement rider. All dreams come

to an end at some point and I want to make the most of this

opportunity and enjoy every single minute. Hopefully I can do a good

job. It is one thing coming to There's a fair bit of pressure.

could say am a little bit under- prepared because I have a three-

quarters of the season to catch up on these guys. You have to jump in

at the deep end, but when you try to come in near the end of the

season on a completely different bike, it is a difficult task. To be

jumping from Superbike to MotoGP, it makes it even bigger. When you

get requested to do this, it is not something you turned down and as

much as I have my own goals and expectations, it is silly to come

here and think I can set the world on fire. I have to respect the

riders year. The biggest difference for me was the tyre. I am a big

believer been all bikes have two wheels and it's down to the rider.

And just riding the bike here, I am not raising it yet. There is a

limit I have got to now, I do not feel I can go faster. I am riding

the bike with too much respect. To get the best, you have got to push

hard into the unknown. With the Super bike it is a little bit more

forgiving, there is more feedback with the tyres. That is the point I

am struggling to reach. I know what I have to do to go faster, but

doing that in my brain and doing that in my race is a different

Realistically, what are you expecting from this weekend?

don't know, what do you expect? expect you to be in the front of

the CRTs. I know I can give a good account of myself but like us at

four, we are playing catch-up and I hope I can do myself prowled, and

my British fans who have stuck behind me. They have been on a

plane coming over with a lot of them. I'm sure you would love to be

in this class, truthfully? Yes, it would be nice to be here next year.

It is hard to say it is an audition or whatever, but there is one bike

left in this championship and it would be great to be given that

opportunity but we just have to see what happens. Well done.

A big chance for him. He has impressed so far in qualifying. The

one bike he refers to is the one remaining prototype seat and we are

led to believe that will be between Johnny, Scott Redding and Bautista.

The other prototypes are Ducatis and we know they will be taken by

Ben Spies and a young Moto2 star Micro. There has been a lot of

movement. The us, most of it on the back row

of the grid. This rider is here from the Superbikes, but still

contesting the Superbikes championship as well. David, how

does it feel to be here on the grid? It is a big opportunity.

stay here with these riders is incredible. A what has been the

most difficult thing coming here? The brakes and the tyres is

difficult. Having no carbon brakes, it is difficult, but no problem.

Good luck. Let's move on, because ahead of him is Colin Edwards. I

have some great news, he has signed a one-year extension with forward

racing. We don't know what bike that will be and we know he has had

some problems with the BMW this year but they have been in talks

with BMW and hoping for Mr Bock in development. What might help him is

that this racing team is also on the same bike. He only had one of

Ikea so he has had to be really careful in the run-up, no crashers.

Ahead now, three Brits on the grid, James Ellison one of them. A rider

a little bit under pressure, in competition with Tommy Hill, shaky

Byrne and some -- Sam Lowes. The last time we had three Brits on the

grid, James was one of them alongside Williams and Hodgson.

Alongside this possible ride at Rossini next year we might even

have five. Let's see if we can grab have five. Let's see if we can grab

a quick word with Johnny pen. How does it feel to be on the grid?

is nice, but inside my head right now it is so nervous. I am not

against my heroes but I am just trying to enjoy myself as best I

can whilst hyperventilating out there. It is not going to be an

easy task. This morning in warm up we went backwards with the set-up

so we went into the race blind but we will see what happens. It didn't

make it any easier having the wet sessions? Talk about dropping

Meehan at the deep end. Yesterday afternoon was the first try session

I had that Misano so we are definitely playing catch-up, but

hopefully the set-up is what I need for the laps. Third row, and I

think that is probably as good as he can expect. Let's grab a quick

word with Ben Spies. He's back now, fortunately. Let's see if we can

just break in. A quick word with you, sorry to break your

concentration before the race. How are you feeling? I think you went

quicker in warm up today than in qualifying yesterday? Yes, my warm

up was good. We made a mistake and the other bike wasn't the same set-

up. It cost us a bit. We are starting way back here, but we had

a good bike this morning and hopefully improved a bit more. It

has been a hard weekend for everybody with the settled and the

track and now it will be the hottest we have seen it all weekend.

It will be a gamble with the settings and the traction control

and things like that, and the track will continue to get better and

better. We have a decent package, and the first thing is just to get

a good start through the first five corners, try to make up some

positions, get in the groove and see what we can do. Good luck, it

is about time you had some. As we know, he is leaving Yamaha at the

end of the season, riding a Ducati next year. We don't know exactly

how the team will be constructive yet, but it is the current set-up.

Let's get a quick word with this guy because look at the crowd

around him. He may only be on the second row but Valentino Rossi

remains a big star in this part of the world. Let's scoot through, it

is very busy today. Excuse me. Let's see if we can get to Cal

Crutchlow because once again he is on the front row as he was three

weeks ago. Staying cool here. You have continued your excellent form

from the Czech Republic and looking good again here this weekend, apart

from that daft collar. At least I don't look like a vicar. What are

you saying? You look like a vicar! It is good to be here on the front

row and hopefully we can get away and get a good start with the

factory Yamaha and factory Honda and see where we can go from there.

It will belong race so to be here on the grid is a little bit

different to a normal race weekend but I will try my best. Our sure

some people at home are wondering what this is in all seriousness.

is a bit cold so I'm just making sure I don't get a sore throat. No,

it's freezing cold, to keep my neck cold. Good luck today. What a witty

man. Let's move on. What this race really is all about today, we want

to see him back on the podium today but it is really getting down to

the nitty gritty in the championship. Just six rounds to go.

They have managed to stay friends so far this season, but for how

long? Let's look at the final preparations for Jorge Lorenzo. He

likes racing in Italy, winning here earlier this year. Let's get a word

with his team manager. Can I just grabbed you for second? We have

Phil Read in the background as well. How is he feeling coming into this

race? Obviously it is getting tight between himself and Dani Pedrosa at

the top. Yes, you can feel it is a very important race and both riders

are very aware it is an important moment so, but they are ready and

you felt OK this morning. The track is not in great shape but he felt

good and it looked like Dani Pedrosa also struggled left and

right so let's see if we can go through the first couple of laps OK.

That will be the key. Just real quick, I am grabbing Phil Read, the

world champion for Great Britain Indy 500s. You must be delighted.

He has done incredibly well and it will be very close. Unfortunately

the Spaniard will get a flying start what it will make for a great

race. That is the key to this track, we have seen it so many times in

the past, particularly the first two corners it is important to get

away well. Up yes, and what we need from Cal Crutchlow is a good start.

It is imperative to get yourself sorted going through that chicane.

Otherwise it goes horribly south. Or yes, Nicky Hayden has been

bowled off their virtually every time he has been here, but it is a

great circuit. An interesting circuit and very busy for the guys

with no long straights. That straight with a left kink in it is

the longest part of the circuit, straight why is. Then into the

tight left-hander, a banked corner with probably a lot of passing it

around there. Then the big right hander, Curvone. They are carrying

massive speed and massive braking on the circuit. Yes, that corner is

on the circuit. Yes, that corner is taken at about 180 mph, so very

between the first three rows, right the way back to Dovizioso and Ben

Spies. It is tight indeed. Watch a lot for Ben Spies because he

crashed in qualifying so that time does not reflect really how quickly

he will go. Johnny Ray, he will be looking to go through nice and

quickly. I think you are right, Ben Spies could be the man that might

spoil Cal Crutchlow getting on the podium. Ben Spies was fast in the

first part of qualifying, then he had the crash and went out on the

second bike. Keep a close eye on him, but he has to go through,

having qualified in 8 position. Tyre wear will play its part. They

have all made a safety bet. Yes, they have all gone for the harder

construction tyres and that is what it is all about, with so much

braking. Turn 11, 12 and 13, they are braking through all of those

corners and we will probably get an idea about that on this sighting

lap right now. Oh dear, that is just what you need. I did like the

quote of the day, "I am going to go out and enjoy it whilst

hyperventilating". If it will be tricky for him, he has never have

the environment of the start lying in to these two corners at Misano.

This track changed direction, it used to go counter clockwise, but

it is very busy at the early stages so he has to stay out of trouble

and he will get faster and faster. You can see the seat in the

background of the shot, it is a lovely section of the country here

in Rimini. It is a very level circuit as well, a slight climb all

here from that bottom bend, and then the drag up. The really

interesting part after the Curvone, the way the track has been reversed

it tightens and tightens, where it used to be an opening out part of

the track. Yes, now it is tricky on the brakes. You have to have

confidence, and that is something that know the limit of those tyres.

He has got to push his way through that. If he can get a have decent

start, riding with the other riders will help him. Dani Pedrosa working

his way back to where he should be. I think this will be tight at the

start, I think you should all stand back. It is 28 laps, it will be

fast and furious. Turns one and two, you really have got to watch for

them. Dani Pedrosa is a fast starter, but he has got to get to

that corner and stay out of trouble. That is a jump-start! They will

have to reform again. As you can see, they're putting their hands up.

There was a sudden a yellow flag out of nowhere. If Johnny Ray was

not hyperventilating before, it will be worse now. Maybe it was

Karel Abraham who stalled. They will have to do another lap.

better turn your pacemaker down a notch. I thought for a horrible

moment there that Jorge Lorenzo had out socks to himself. I suspect

they will cut a lap off this because it is always quite tight on

fuel. There is a good chance this will be a 27 lap race. Here we are.

You can see that is where it all went wrong. Ben Spies in nearly

having a moment and a half. That was ever so confusing. I would like

to know, I hope we hear from the pit lane, what the cause of that

was. My best guess is it was Karel Abraham, but we do not know.

They're going to bring out of the donkey engines and everything has

got to get going again. You have got to drop your pulse, cool down.

The worst thing is, when you're racing it you think about the first

lap, you are psych yourself out and get into their head position. Now

they have to do it all over again. It is like they have come back out

to the grid. They will possibly cut a lap of, if they do not, they will

be allowed to refuel. Don't forget, because we are up the red light

stage, everyone had their throttles open on the starting a match. They

would have got through bits of fuel And it was just before the lights

went on. Quick thinking there by the marshals on the pit wall. They

have spotted it. They just stopped it in time. It could have been

tricky because Karel Abraham was right in the middle of the pack. He

was the 11th out of 21 runners. That could have been catastrophic.

They will come back around. They cannot start cold from here, they

will have to go around once. They will go for a warm-up lap. They

will come to the grid, have a warm- up lap and a way they will go. I do

not think this track is tight on fuel, but they have done an extra

lap up by the time they have done this and that will have used fuel

up. That is 10% more learning for poor old Johnnie Ray. I feel for

him because no matter what do you think or what you were told by all

your bosses, you're under scrutiny to see what you can do. It is like

going to be school halfway through the term when everyone else has got

their lockers and they know whether tap shoppers, and he is thrown in

three-quarters of the way through that a season. No chance to learn

the bike in a nice quiet environment. He is going to go off

to Portugal next weekend to race on the Superbike. If his head is not

boggled, it never will be. He will be race-fit, that is for sure. The

one good thing for Johnny is that they do raise the Superbikes around

here. That is all good. Again, for people who do not understand the

difference in the bikes. My analogy is the MotoGP bikes are likely

Savell Row suit compared to ones you buy off the peg. It is bespoke.

That is what a MotoGP bike it is, it is made for you. I suspect one

or two of the teams have said they will be tied on fuel, so they have

decided to lose two laps. It will be 26 laps. By that time they

finish they will have actually done the same amount of laps. Valentino

Rossi, the most experienced guy here in this class. He will have

seen it all before. A good qualifier from him, best yet.

Outside second row, that is quite useful if he can get off the line.

That was quick thinking from the Marshalls, we can see it again.

Karel Abraham puts his hand up. A few changes going on here. Well,

you were really pumped at that moment, when you have seen the red

light. You are seconds from starting and then you were told to

stop. We seem to have a brake problem here. From Dani Pedrosa's

bike. It seems the front brake is locked on. That is an interesting

scenario. Something strange has happened. And he thinks something

is going on there, maybe pressure has built up. They're taking the

bike off the grid, that is very unusual and I do is going on there.

This could be the championship. is 13 points behind his own rival

Jorge Lorenzo. Have they got it resolved or not? He is saying, get

back on the grid for goodness sake. Now, talk about grace under

pressure. Dani Pedrosa is going to have to use all of his intestinal

fortitude to master his emotions, try to stay Hathway calm and not

think about it. Try, with some seconds left, to hope they can fix

the bike, get around there and get sorted. It is sorted. That is good

news. It is just horrible. Your head is getting round the first

corner, you then see about getting off the grid and you cannot take

all that information in. Cal Crutchlow was not happy. He wants

to get sorted out. Let's will be get sorted out because we want to

see a race here. It is between those two, Dani Pedrosa and Jorge

Lorenzo. Somebody else has got a hand up. It is the same, Karel

Abraham. He might have a clutch issue. He cannot move without

stalling. He is off. Let's hope he gets it sorted again. Otherwise you

will have the same issue. Fingers crossed, he will be wondering if

his brakes are OK. He does not look happy, does he? I do not know if

there are still some issues with the front brake. It is so unusual

for this to happen. This is the sort of thing you expect to happen

to Ben Spies. Ben Spies has got to get a result here this weekend. If

he has still got that break issue, is Karel Abraham going to come in?

You can see he has got his finger over the break. It is strange

because he did not have that her long a lap. He would have got the

breaks up to temperature, but what he does not want is some issue

where he is juddering that badly. It has to be perfect for him to

have any chance whatsoever. It is a vibration that comes up through the

handlebars. And it is all about brakes on these bikes. He is coming

round, is it all working nicely? He will be trying hard to make sure

everything is up to temperature and pressure. Dani Pedrosa did not mean

to do that, but he is going to come to the grid very late. Karel

Abraham has stalled again. If his hand has gone up now, they will get

rid of him before we hit the red lights. What is happening? Aleix

Espargaro is off to the side. If Dani Pedrosa or has not taken his

position, he will be starting off the back. And he is not there. He

is at the back. There you go. It does not get any harder than that.

Well, at Jorge Lorenzo was going to think he has had all his

Christmases at once. The there he goes. Valentino Rossi, he is in

second place. Stefan Bradl muscles his way past. We are going to have

to watch for Dani Pedrosa to see how fast he goes. He is looking

very good so far, already he is halfway through. Jorge Lorenzo will

want to get his head down and clear off into a distance. He has a

certain point advantage and there is a good chance if he stays

upright you will get even more points today. No! Of no! That it is

two riders down. Karel Abraham who is already carrying injuries. That

has torn the championship to shreds. Absolutely! Absolutely shocking.

Hector Barbera who was already carrying an injury is down. What an

expensive price Dani Pedrosa paid for that problem he had at the

start. A restart, and then his championship just got blown away.

There he goes. Aleix Espargaro goes off the track trying to miss it.

They are going to tell Jorge Lorenzo that Dani Pedrosa is out.

Valentino is up into second place. Cal Crutchlow has got his hands

full absolutely, he got mugged by his team-mate. So, regrouping all

of this it is Jorge Lorenzo from Valentino Rossi. I was going to say,

Johnnie Ray his ninth, where he started from. That is a good result.

You're absolutely right, all that stemmed from the fact that Dani

Pedrosa it was at the back. I have never seen that happen before a,

for the bike to jam up like that. There will be a huge post-mortem to

He started from the pit lane on his spare bike as well, he probably

wished he hadn't now. Maybe his tyres weren't up to temperature, I

don't know what happened. He had 22 crashes last year. Tour about

collateral damage from that one mechanical problem at the start of

the race. Dani Pedrosa is out of the race and Jorge Lorenzo will be

smirking like a Cheshire cat. His arch-rival is not heard, but he has

no points. Lorenzo is already 13 ahead if he wins this race, 25 and

13. It is huge. That was down the bottom corner, which is such an

easy place for that to happen. about this, the number 46, the

Doctor is in the house at the moment. Stefan Bradl has had a

great weekend so far. They made some set-up changes this morning

and he said the bike felt better. Let's have another look at this.

You are riding with Dani Pedrosa now, enjoy it because it didn't

last long. He got to the inside on the brakes now, and here it comes.

Barbera just couldn't get the bikes stopped. Barbera is a crash fest.

He won't be in this paddock next year because his ride has already

been given away, and that is the price you pay for getting stuck in

traffic you wouldn't normally be stuck in. Valentino Rossi is

hanging on to second place, Stefan Bradl behind him is on a Honda, and

that should be a more comfortable ride round here than the Ducati.

Then it is Dovizioso, and Cal Crutchlow is now unfortunately

behind Dovizioso who has proved very hard to get past, as Cal

Crutchlow proved earlier this year. The as well be a difficult few laps

because Stefan Bradl does have the pace to get past Valentino Rossi.

We are saying that, that is unless Valentino Rossi and his team have

probably look hard through the night, had two days of testing here

a couple of weeks ago. I am hearing the rest of the team are going with

Valentino Rossi to Yamaha next year. He would expect it. I'm pretty sure

that would happen. Jorge Lorenzo has the fastest lap of the race. A

little bit of it yet, on but you would expect that. The track has

really not have a lot of usage this weekend so it is not as grippy as

it would have been. The body language on Cal Crutchlow's bike is

that he will get past Dovizioso because he has been held back by

him before and it has cost him dearly. He is thinking hang on a

minute, if Stefan Bradl is climbing all over the back of Valentino

Rossi, that could be me. Oh, no! Cal Crutchlow has hit the deck. He

is holding his knee. This has had most of the high points kicked out

of it this race as far as I am concerned. Let's get it done and

get out of here. Cal Crutchlow was trying very hard to get past

Dovizioso, we will probably get a replay of that. Jorge Lorenzo, it

is unfolding in front of him because there is no way I believe

Valentino Rossi can keep this kind of pace. Let's see what happened to

Cal Crutchlow. It is a high side, flipped him. He was pressuring

Dovizioso as hard as he could, which we know he had to. Let's hope

that is not an injury he will be carrying. Meanwhile, Valentino

Rossi is staring down the barrel of a podium at this stage and you

don't see many of them from him any more. From on Tino Rossi has just

done a la of 1: 14.1. They did some testing, and he said he might have

qualified in sixth place, but more importantly he felt his times were

close to the frontrunners. There is only one front-runner now, Jorge

Lorenzo. You would say that once he settles down he can keep up a solid

base. In the one practice session we had, Lorenzo was very consistent.

In new colours this week, Yamaha have a new colour scheme out for

other sports bikes. It is of bright race blue, I believe they collect,

with a matt finish. The sound like a decorator. Stefan Bradl behind,

that is being closed down. Judging by the warm up, we expected more

from Dovizioso. There he goes, Bautista has mugged him. The riders

are always talking about the temperature of the track and it is

higher than we have seen all week. It is drier and higher, and setting

up the track is a bit of a guesstimation. That takes Bautista

into fifth position. Valentino Rossi, a valiant effort from him.

OK, so here we have it, Lorenzo, Rossi, Stefan Bradl. There is no

Dani Pedrosa, there was a keystone cops start for him and he had to

restart from the back of the grid, then they have to restart it

because of a front wheel problem. What went wrong? I am here with

Reece Edwards, what was the problem? We didn't see it, but it

looks like the tyre cover got caught underneath the front

mudguard. As we've brought the bike back in we managed to get that on

done but maybe it had an effect on the front wheel. Dani Pedrosa

dropped behind the safety car, meaning he had to start from the

bottom of the grid, which led to another complication and

unfortunately he got collected when Barbera went down. Very devastating

for Honda as well because they have just lost a pile of points.

Disappointing for this guy as well, he just got mugged by Dovizioso and

he had it all to do. A tyre warmer being jammed, you would do

something about that. I think there was a brake pad, disc issue. We

will find out more about it, we generally do. The one thing that is

not uncertain, Steve, is that Hector Barbera had a brain problem

and ran into the back of Cal Crutchlow. He probably would have

been in the top four microbe by the end of that two. For were out, he

nearly reversed it into that corner. Johnny Ray learning all the time.

We know he can go faster than his last lap. He is just behind Nicky

Hayden, in front of the CRT bikes, as we would expect. Nicky Hayden

still has a broken bone in his hand after the nasty crash in

Minneapolis. Dovizioso, the third bike in that trio that you can see

is making no inroads as yet on bike number six. There will not be any

issue getting out of this circuit tonight because no one will leave.

Ostensibly this is his home race. The only thing they have struggled

with, at the end of the race, tired -- tyre degradation. Johnny Ray in

eighth place. His last lap, 1: 36.4. He is riding well within himself.

As he said, I'm not raising this bike yet, I am still riding it.

Racing will come. Espargaro in ninth place, Randy de Puniet in

tenth place. The most important thing for Colin Edwards is that he

is in front of Petrucci. We are hearing that the CRT bikes will

have a single unit making the racing much closer, in theory

making a more loving playing field - micro level playing field.

Petrucci, I think he is rather lucky that Dovizioso is not out. I

think he would have struggled today with Dani Pedrosa. Admittedly, he's

not really under pressure by any which way, at 1: 34.4, still half a

second off the lap record time. This Sunday afternoon ride for him,

and a very pleasant one. Dani Pedrosa will still be working hard

getting the not out of his stomach because he will be pent up with

fury at the calamitous mechanical problems they had at the top of the

race, and then Barbera taking him out. Jorge Lorenzo will go to 38

points in front if he finishes like this, and nice handy margin at this

point. Abraham can't believe what is going on. He picked up some of

Ben Spies' bad luck. The whole thing could have been different. It

was in the book, they have problems again, and when he finally got

going he fell off. We heard he will be on a CRT bike next year. Stefan

Bradl, the rookie this year, they're right behind Valentino

Rossi and we're now coming into the stage of this race that if the

Ducati will start eating up the rear tyres, it will start affecting

it. Let's see Stefan Bradl, would he have been expecting to get into

second place at the start of this year? No is the answer. He is

putting pressure on Valentino Rossi. How would that be if his first

podium was second place, that would be really something. Most

significantly, Rossi and Stefan Bradl are dropping off Dovizioso.

From Valentino Rossi fans, pretty much anyone who has ever watched a

motorbike race, that is very good news indeed because we are in good

shape so far for seeing him on the podium. The only person Dovizioso

will not enjoy being dropped off, although he is riding a Ducati next

year, maybe they have got it sorted out for him next year - he will be

taking over from Valentino Rossi. Do you mean his subconscious is

helping him roll off the throttle to make the Ducatis look faster? He

will be pleased because Stefan Bradl is on good form. There is a

rumour around as well that the number six bike -- they might run

two bikes next year. Who knows, maybe Johnny Ray. With Paul bird

talking about two British riders next year, it sounds like shaky

then might be there to join that pressure from No. 6, rider Stefan

Bradl. Alvaro Bautista had a poor season, but it seems to be coming

back to him a little bit. He needs some really good results. Slightly

disappointed and surprised by Ben Spies challenge. Me too. The only

reason he qualified badly was because the crash in qualifying and

his times had been quick a bundle them. It was a real lottery though

this weekend, the weather was so bad that everybody had to hurry

with their set up in qualifying. Maybe whatever he did was fast

enough for a good Lapper, but the warm up this morning has not worked.

-- lap. He is one second a lap slower than his team-mate Jorge

Lorenzo. He will have to be extremely judicious in the way he

drives to get past the Valentino Rossi. Andrea Dovizioso has started

to get his head down. He is closing those two down. The man still on

the move is Alvaro Bautista. He is lapping faster than all the guys

here. He just put in his sec -- fastest race. De army macro, well

into the 36s,. Jonny Rae. It will be valuable for him. Great credit

to Jonny Rae. He has not chucked the bike down the road. He has been

careful and mature. He is up there. Second! He is riding the wheels off

it. Great to see. Jorge Lorenzo looks at his pit board. He has an

advantage. The only other person is Alvaro Bautista in fifth place.

laps left, he has plenty of time to chase this group down. If anyone

needs to cover themselves in glory, it is Alvaro Bautista. He is in a

bad place at the moment and needs to get some results. In theory, he

could get second place. He has a lot of passing to do, but he is

lapping faster than that the rest of the bunch, all but Jorge Lorenzo.

It does go to show that this has become a two horse race. Without

Casey Stoner here, then with Dani Pedrosa suddenly out, it is Jorge

Lorenzo on his own. The championship was going to go to

Jorge Lorenzo or Dani Pedrosa, and after the shambolic start to the

race by Dani Pedrosa, Lorenzo is odds on. Alvaro Bautista, let's

watch him. I reckon there will be a lot of engineers in the Honda camp

in Dani Pedrosa's camp running a mile at the moment, questioning

what has gone on. Cal Crutchlow goes in to turn one there in third,

he was still in front of Andrea Dovizioso at that point. We are

riding with Dani Pedrosa, just weaving his way through. He did

everything perfectly. At the end of the first lap, he would have been

in the top eight, but he never made it to the end. Look at this, bang,

right on the back wheel. Hector Barbera was stood up slightly there.

It did affect his braking. His team looking on with disdain. Explaining

to the boss, listen, it is like this, we still have won by. That

could well have been the championship moment. Isn't it

extraordinary that something at the start, so mechanically trifling,

could see the whole thing harpooned. Dani Pedrosa found himself in a

higher risk place where he would never normally be. It just

compounded it self, right from that first... Probably, if you think

about it, it all stemmed from Karel Abraham missing at the start-up.

You saw those two lap times. Alvaro Bautista, he is closing in now.

When is the last time we saw this Ducati team lapping so close to

Lorenzo? Valentino... No. 4, Andrea Dovizioso, he is a frontrunner.

Valentino Rossi is keeping the that pace nice and steady. Alvaro

Bautista, you can see right on the back there. Really on the back.

Almost on the side. It is close, it looks like a whore when not if it.

-- when. He needs to be decisive and get it done while he still has

tyres. Valentino Rossi stretched out, a little bit of an advantage

over Stefan Bradl. I think the crowd are still holding their

breath. They cannot imagine that this would happen. Valentino Rossi

has had a second place with that bike this year. This is undoubtedly

the best we have seen some him. There we go, neat as you like. So

important for teams struggling for budget. The San Carlo Honda Gesini

team at really need to buy some results. That was the bike set

aside for or Marco Simoncelli. would be a fantastic result if he

could get that. If Alvaro Bautista could get that bike on the podium.

He has moved into fourth place. Nine Tino Rossi was four-tenths

lower than the Jorge Lorenzo coming round that last lap. -- Valentino

Rossi. Let's have a look, what can Alvaro Bautista do? Can he close

the gap to Stefan Bradl? It would be a treat for the fans here. And

what a nice tribute for Marco Simoncelli. To have his bike on the

podium, and to have Valentino Rossi on the podium. It would be a

belting afternoon, indeed. We talked about this yesterday during

qualifying, Alvaro Bautista is pressing on, trying very hard. But

his bike appears to be the least settled. It looks most lively,

especially at the front end. It looks like an accident waiting to

happen. It does. Over the years we have seen some riders who like a

bike that moves around, some like it very smooth. It is just whatever

feedback you get, what gives you the confidence. Alvaro Bautista are

looking very good. His last lap was one-tenth faster than Stefan Bradl.

In theory, Alvaro Bautista's bike should be a little bit better. Even

though it was earmarked for Marco Simoncelli for this year. Biggest a

slightly higher spec. Honda to Bautista, he is going to have a

little look. He is using all the track. Coming down to this hugely

committed corner, going right the way up to the kerb. Stefan Bradl

was good through there, he didn't lose any time at all. Ten laps

across the stripe, 5.5 seconds in front of Valentino Rossi who is

almost second in front of Stefan Bradl. Alvaro Bautista is all over

the back of him. When it all started, there was no doubting Dani

Pedrosa, but the problems with Karel Abraham, well, he had a

shocker of an afternoon. A disaster from the start really. Stalling on

the start line first. It was a disaster today because all weekend

was very good. It looked like we could make a really good times.

Unfortunately, we had a technical problem on the starting grid. My

clutch did not work properly so when I stalled, and put it in first

gear, the bike switched off. I decided to change the bike, but

unfortunately, there were technical problems as well. It is strange and

crazy that we had a two technical problems on the two bikes ready for

the race. There was something wrong with the brake, and Orwell was

leaking. I decided, in the end to The chances of having two Dutch

bikes! -- dud. The circuit has been renamed after Marco Simoncelli.

That is the bike he would have been riding this year. But Valentino

Rossi is the darling of this area. But whatever happens, we will find

out shortly. Alvaro Bautista has a clear track in front of him. He

made that perfect pass through Stefan Bradl. It would be even

worse for Cal Crutchlow if he finds Andrea Dovizioso even on the third

step of the podium. As we were speculating at the top of the show,

I think he is probably at a better place staying with Yamaha. I think

he is. In my opinion, do Cassie had made a breakthrough. Here this

weekend, this is by far and away the best we have seen. 5.2 seconds

back from the leader in second position. The times are still close.

As I said earlier, Valentino Rossi was saying, I am so close to the

front guys because of all the work we do here. They tested here.

Valentino Rossi has really responded. The fact that Alvaro

Bautista has got into third place may have helped. He has raced for a

tenth faster than Jorge Lorenzo. With seven laps remaining, I think

Valentino Rossi has got this nailed. The thing with Valentino is that

since he had such a lacklustre few years, he has not been in the

spotlight. We have not been following his performance, he has

not been on television. Now we are reminded of how smart he is.

Remember, we have said this time and time again, no-one looks after

a bike like a Valentino Rossi. No- one has as much bike left at the

end of a race as him. No-one can do better than him with worn-out tyres.

He has the skills set to make the Valentino Rossi. Colin Edwards,

nice to see him in the mix, riding up behind Hernandez. Johnny rear

still in eighth place, a couple of seconds back on Nicky Hayden.

Bautista, in third place, Johnny rear last time was quicker so he is

chipping away, bit by bit. The gap between Valentino and Bautista is

looking healthy. It's is because Valentino's lap times have come

down. He has really responded to the new helmet design, he will

probably be keeping that. He looks good, he looks comfortable. Less

than six laps remaining now. Yes, a podium for Alvaro Bautista would be

as astonishing as a podium for Stefan Bradl really, he has not

been on one this year. In fourth place was his best result this year.

It would be a great fillip for the Italian team to have them boy it up

there. These are the last lap times around. Not a whole bunch in it.

Ben Spies getting it together a bit now but it is too late for him to

get back up to the podium. It could be Stefan Bradl's first podium,

that wouldn't be bad, would it? Three-quarters through your first

season and on the podium. There is the four-wood shot. -- forward shot.

Bautista has got himself a little bit of air. These bikes are slowly

each other down and that concertina effect could make a real race to

the line. Demonstration laps only for Jorge Lorenzo, but here is a

slow-motion shot of it. Yes, the body position pulled to the front

of the bike, trying to get the front wheel down as quickly as you

possibly can. This is the fight for the final place on the podium. Ben

Spies has really closed these guys down. The last lap for him was a

couple of tenths faster than Dovizioso. He is currently in sixth

position. Johnnie Ray there, possible for him to grab seventh

spot. The would be good stuff for him. Nicky Hayden said the Ducatis

felt great. He said I'm no good, but the bike is great. Look at this,

this up. May be a chance down into this slow corner here. I reckon he

has done it, he just slithers down the inside. So, Dovizioso, Stefan

Bradl, next on the list for him to get past is Ben Spies. He's coming

already, and this has been a very costly couple of corners for him.

Ben Spies is running very deep but he stunned the by Cup in time.

it is a very dangerous corner because you can run out wide, a

positive camber and if you run out wide you actually get more camber.

He will want to get past Dovizioso furiously because of course he is

on the factory Yamaha and Dovizioso is not. There is Nicky Hayden, and

Johnny Rea right behind him. reckon Nicky Hayden is really in

paying, his hand has not healed as expected, and getting a lot of

stick. It is the busy hand with the throttle and brake. It is the

pressure that goes on your hand with these thick carbon brakes and

I bet Johnny rear will be finding that as well. This is Espargaro.

For he is very strong in his class, he was really making Randy de

Puniet work for it. Randy de Puniet is now in ninth place. We have had

a real race of attrition here today. Cal Crutchlow loud, Dani Pedrosa

out, Abraham. There is an interesting dynamic, Bautista it is

not clearing off from these two. He is half the second in front of

Dovizioso, and Ben Spies on the blue bike really hammering into

that corner trying to find a way past. That was of its costly, but

he might have it in his head he can get past these two. This battle is

wide-open. What went on with Ben Spies at the start of the race, the

fuel will go down and the bike will often change. He is now lapping at

a really good pace. Yamaha have a will only have two laps left of

this. Dovizioso is really going to have to work hard to keep Ben Spies

at bay. Valentino Rossi is looking good for a podium, looking good for

the second step of the podium. The joint will go mad. Yes, the factory

just up the road in Bologna. I think I can do it in 38 minutes,

anyway it is just up the road. He has a lot of fans here, and they

have Ducati week here in Misano. Dovizioso has responded. He has

thrown the gauntlet back. OK, do your worst, Ben Spies. You have got

to catch me first, and it is not impossible for Dovizioso to catch

Bautista. Bautista it is sitting at the moment on the bottom of the

podium in third place. It would be a lovely emotional result to get

that bike up there. This man here has had a lucky day. He had an

unlucky day when he got bowled off of course, but at the moment it is

looking very good for him in the championship, 38 points the

advantage he will have. Valentino Rossi currently sitting in the

championship in eighth place, he will jump ahead of Bautista. This

will be good for him as far as championship position is concerned.

Here we go, the last lap. Bautista is looking insecure. Valentino

Rossi is looking very secure, and I have forgotten what Lorenzo looks

like. It will rarely be between Bautista, Dovizioso, and Ben Spies.

They are sniffing around for the podium. Bautista, for microseconds

off the back of these boys so he is a bit of a spent force am afraid.

Look at this, bike number four. It is not impossible. There are quite

a few good passing places left for Dovizioso and this is really close.

Bautista will have to work for this. He is holding a defensive line here.

Keeping a nice tight line every which way. He has to get the bike

standing up and fire ripped through the corner as best he can. They

know each other's racing tactics, they know what it is like to duel

with each other. I think almost certainly Dovizioso will dive down

the inside here at the bottom corner, no, he has gone the wide

way. It would be nice to see the bike on the podium. Two left-

hander's left. Dovizioso has got to get down the inside. Jorge Lorenzo

is across the line first. Valentino Rossi is going to get across the

line second, and it is right to the wire across the line. Alvaro

Bautista does it by three thousandths of a second. I am

pleased for the team. Dovizioso kind of got past, but Bautista

genius designer, and he has finally seen some good results, and in a

home race. It is a video finish, we are hearing. We haven't seen this

for a while, Valentino Rossi celebrating the race result. What

about that. Very pleased for him and the Ducati

team. Thanks for hanging on so long, fans. He has resigned with Yamaha

for the next two years of course. It did look like Bautista had

initially, it said he has got it. Three thousandths it says. That is

unimaginable. It has been confirmed. He makes it to the podium, good

stuff. Ben Spies gave a lot, but too late. Yes, I don't know what

went on. This man should be pleased because his second MotoGP

championship is looking more secure than it was at the start of the

championship. I yes, courtesy of this. Dani Pedrosa, his whole

career in MotoGP has been through... I guess you would have to say a

fair amount of bad luck with injuries and everything else.

Speaking to his long-term manager, he was saying that he is fighting

hard, he hasn't been injured, but suddenly it goes horribly wrong.

Casey Stoner is out of it because he's not here so he has got third

place and that is about it. Valentino Rossi, second at his real

home Grand Prix. It is the real deal. Let's spare a thought for

those who are not crossing the line here - that is Karel Abraham, who

started it in a weird way with his bike breaking, Dani Pedrosa,

Barbera, Espargaro. The circuit has caught quite a few people are old,

but this place here at Misano has not been one of the bad circuit as

far as crashes is concerned. I think a lot of it is about not

having dry track time. Yes, you should be very pleased. It was

gifted him, no Casey Stoner, no Dani Pedrosa, and there is no

excuse for not winning when you are Jorge Lorenzo in that position.

Even qualifying was close but it would have been fascinating to see

and it is deeply frustrating that battle was taken from us but it is

deeply gratifying that we were rewarded with Valentino Rossi on

the podium and Alvaro Bautista get a podium. Everyone is a winner here,

except for Dani Pedrosa, Barbera, Abraham etc. We haven't seen that

for a while either. I am getting mystique. A lovely result.

whatever reason, Casey Stoner could win on a Ducati but Valentino Rossi

War the Yamaha like a glove. Seeing him on it next year could be

fantastic. Mouth-watering. Valentino Rossi, 4.3 seconds back

in second place, the closest they have been by a long way. That is

the absolute killer, isn't it? For microseconds off at the end of

those laps, it is extraordinary. Won't it be galling if he'd just

stays at Ducatis long enough to turn into a real weapon, and then

leaves? And the real winner would be Dovizioso, and of course Ben

Spies riding this year. If a very nice chap, pragmatic about it and

he will keep on going. That is a cruel margin to lose by. Three

thousands of one second. That is the Ducati garage, the inside of it.

I have to explain it, it has been some time. That is three podiums

for Valentino. Land the de Puniet will move up a place in the

championship, he was the first of the CRTs and he will leapfrog past

Espargaro. Out Sister on the podium, outstanding.

Congratulations, your first MotoGP podium on an emotional weekend. You

are looking so emotional. Yes, for sure. It has been very emotional

when you get your first podium in MotoGP, but here in this tough

weekend for us, for the team, it is very special. I want to make a good

race at the end. I kept third position and I am so happy. I don't

have a lot to say, just thanks to the team. It is in memory of Marco.

You can see how much it means to everyone.

All I can say it is this is a Not only did we get their right to

the end, but he got his best mate on the podium and his old team.

Unfortunately now, with the late start, we are running out of time

on BBC Two, but if you press your red button at the end of this show

we have half-an-hour of MotoGP extra. We will have interviews, and