Jerez MotoGP

It has been a bad week for Spanish sport with Barcelona and Real

Madrid to crashing out, but the locals here don't care about all

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 74 seconds

The European road trip starts here. Jerez, the spiritual home of

Spanish motorcycle racing, quite a contrast to the surroundings

I don't think my a team place enough importance on how big it is,

they just think you are fast, you can do it anyway. This guy, Lorenzo,

pole position. I really enjoyed the race, normally you are struggling.

Pushing, trying. After four laps I started getting really bad arm pump.

My hand was shaking,. Is he going for the inside? He has. This

victory, never give up. We are proving a lot of people wrong.

Commander, you can do it! -- come Fantastic performance from Cal

Crutchlow in Qatar three weeks ago. Even more impressive was his

performance in the race, fourth- place finish, but only Casey

Stennett managed to set a faster lap during the race. He was

consistent throughout -- Casey Stoner. Fantastic performance from

Karl Crutchlow. Like James Toseland before him and all the Brits, it is

early days for Pal Crutchlow. -- Cal. He looks at home, such a solid

position. Grey start to the season all round, because we expected

cases donor to run away with it. said he had the pace, the bike was

easy, he was going to stroll home but he had arm pump, couldn't do it.

That was really good for the championship because we all thought

he was going to smoke it. Now the championship starts for real. We

were hoping for better conditions than this. Grey skies, miserable

weather all weekend, it difficult situation for the riders. It does

look like it will dry out and maybe we will start on slick tyres but it

has been difficult all weekend. The wet tyres are not lasting all

weekend. A lot of people looking for some dice to roll at the moment.

This is the situation you don't want as a rider or team manager

because it is cloudy now. Lots of crashes in mixed conditions. In May

to a 3 1/2 the field crash. And no day to a lot of carnage as well. If

you are in Valentino Rossi's team you would be death spread for some

rain. We will tell you more about that in a moment. Challenging times

for the guys behind us. It has been miserable here all weekend. Wet

practice on Friday, and again yesterday morning, a bit of dry

time yesterday afternoon but a real mixed qualifying session. If there

is anything I have learnt over 12 years is that when the weather is

this bad you need to find a good British place to go and hide and

Is the kettle on? Yes. For a tenner. Are you going to make a couple of

tea? Yes. -- a cup of tea. I don't think I am the first visitor. You

have had another guest. We found there was a mouse in here. We had a

beget and it was maybe that long, and we could hear him ignoring at

it in the night. We never left it out for him, we just left him out.

Half of it was there and half of it was up here. He had tried to round.

We said we would get all the straps so we started building traps, he is

so clever, he has taken foot from nine traps, three of them have gone

off and he has still not got caught so this is the next thing, we think

you might eat something and go on their and four in the water. James

Bond of the mouse world. We had a rat catching dock came, he could

smell him that we do know where he is. It is may have. I have heard

the seat is the tough one in this organisation. -- Lucy. I have to

admit, I don't like them. It scares me a bit, I did like stuff like

that. She has been out, whenever we hear a trap come off we push her

into see if she can see it first. Lucy obviously looks after you, at

every circuit, is a fair to say? used to be quite wild and since I

started going out with her I won a world championship the first year

and since then it has gone OK. Quite a strong family presence.

Your father is in the garage. Important we do have people around?

Yes. Imported to have fleecy around. -- it is important to have Lucy

around. My mum comes to European ones. My dad is all right, he

misses a few laps every now and again. In the race in Qatar he

missed one lap but it wasn't a crucial lap. You have got a few

other family members, introduced us to some of your friends, there

seems to be quite a lot. Those winds army and Lucy. In the front

window, that is John. He keeps guard. He doesn't do much. Riding

in the wet, it looks like it will be the case this weekend. But you

enjoyed yourself here in the wet until the crash last year. This

place is a nightmare because it doesn't rain enough, and the tries

up within five laps, no matter how much water there is on the track,

within five laps through track is strife. But hopefully it great at

carries on rainy, or it is dry. People say you love it if wet, you

are from England. They have been round the circuit 12 more times

than me. Everybody wants a dry race. Whatever the weather, we wish you

the best. If it is raining I will They still haven't found the mouse.

They stayed in a hotel last night. If you spot it today let us know.

How big did he say it was? We know where it is. We should say thank

you go to them for letting us into their inner sanctum, less than an

hour before qualifying yesterday afternoon, you can see how relaxed

he was. He took that confidence into qualifying. He has brought

that with him from Qatar. He had a little tumble yesterday, but

nevertheless every time he got out there we thought he would get pole

position. We were in the commentary booth screaming for a rain dance.

We were as well. In the end, there was an exciting battle for pole

position between two Spaniards. Pedrosa and Lorenzo knocking spots

off each other. The grandstand at didn't know what to do. The

Spaniards were going mad. The other thing about the front row of the

great, Nicky Hayden is on the front row. Last time it Ducati started on

the front row was 2010 in Valencia. An incredible start. Even more

incredible, his team-mate Valentino Rossi is so far back, 3.5 seconds

of pole position. I feel sorry for Ducati, they changed their bike

immeasurably, Valentino knows it is in his head, he has got to sorted

out. Desperate times. The future looks bleak at the moment. In the

press conference yesterday he was seen he has got the same problems

as his crew in that they have spent 30 years making motorcycles go

faster but their tricks don't work on the Ducati. The most amazing

thing about Rossi, wherever they land, 2004, got hold of the thing,

what a race. They are gifted at doing that but they can't work this

out. The only good thing is Nicky Hayden is on the front row so it is

in the bike. They have got to transfer that to Valentino Rossi.

mistake to bring an Italian -- an Australian crew into an Italian

factory? It isn't, you can sort that out. Valentino has got to get

his head round it and sort himself out. He must be able to do that.

You mentioned the pole position for cases donor in Valencia in 2010, he

is fifth on the grid -- pacy Stoner. -- Casey. He is 5th, I don't know

whether he has got health issues, he pulled him early holding his arm.

Did not get out in the warm-up this morning. He was in his garage

nursing his hand. Interesting decision not to go out in the warm-

up. I think he is saving his wet tyres but I think we might get a

dry race now. Even fought the best guys in the world it is difficult

to ride in these conditions. Difficult enough to rise eat in the

dry conditions, just ask Steve. -- to ride in the dry conditions.

is the most biddable motorcycle in the world. -- beautiful. This will

produce 240 brake horsepower, some of the faster circuits, 220 mph. An

absolute projectile. The meanest Honda that has ever been built.

Would I like to get a ride on this? It is glorious. You have got to be

a world champion to get on one of these but sometimes it is not what

you know, it is he you know. Any chance of has been? No way.

really my colour anyway. Fortunately I haven't brought all

this for nothing, lots of new teams this year, and a very nice here

Paul Bird Motorsport from the UK, James and his inner being the rider.

I can't believe you're letting me do this. The bikes are really

special. The chassis has been changed, lighter, 157 kilos, carbon

brakes. They can run 24 litres of fuel as it posted 21 and 12 engines

but I don't think they will need that. Very intricate, beautiful

motorcycle, it looks right in his paddock. It does look the part.

James, what a great machine you have got this year, I am really

looking forward to riding it. Paul You can't getting a PIN. This is

worth �500,000, you could buy a couple of houses for that! This

thing is like a little 250. It has a load of torque. They have put the

anti-wheelie system on, because the front wheel keeps going up. Let's

front wheel keeps going up. Let's check it out! You have to use the

inner torque, it has incredible torque. The traction control, that

scared me. Ah! Wow! The brakes are phenomenal. I'm not talking a lot,

because I'm concentrating! It is so light and nimble. Amazing. I love

this! It is absolutely glorious. This time I've got nothing to say.

I need a breather. Physically so demanding, the distance between the

seat is minute. But tarms -- the arms get you with these big carbon

brakes. But I will do one more lap. What a treat that was. I can't

What a treat that was. I can't believe I was on this bike. Thank

you boys. It is very nimble, it wheelies a lot. But I have to say I

have enjoyed that. When you put those big carbon brakes on, it

shoves your arms into your shoulder and then when it accelerates it

pulls your arms out. I need to go to the gym more. That film was,

that stuff was filmed at the test over a month ago. How much progress

have you made? It still wheelies a lot. That is something we have been

struggling with. It is getting more. It is lack of testing time and the

first session was written off. Went out on the second session and found

an electrical problem. We are down on time. In the wet today, the

times weren't that bad and I thought we can get some dry time on

the slicks, which we hadn't had, to test the front tyre and we never

run it. It was a mistake. So we never got to try that. But it is a

massive advantage apparently. You're running that today? Yes we

went out for two or three laps in the iffy conditions, but there were

only two corners that were dry. You're not going as fast, but

fingers crossed it will work. luck today. Here is how the grid

So Jorge Lorenzo on pole for second race and looking to become the

first ride tore win the opening round of any season since Valentino

Rossi in 2001. Dani Pedrosa in second on the grid, making his

100th start at his home Grand Prix. In his previous six appearances

here, he has never finished outside the top two. You would think that

it will be a battle between the two Spaniards. Look very relaxed is

Nicky Hayden. We will try and get a word with him. Excuse me fellas.

Nicky, we spoke to you in Qatar. Great for you to be up here?

great to be opt front row and to raise a couple of tight corners and

try to get things going our way and to capitalise on the good starting

spot and turn it into a result. You're looking very relaxed. It

must be nerve wracking? It's my poker face! We went out with wet

tyres and obviously the bike needs to be switched to dry. So my seat's

taken at the moment. It is definitely nerve wrack on one hand,

but it is cool on the other hand. I like the action, like the chaos of

it. So we will see what happens here. You said the other night, if

there was no pressure, then it wouldn't mean anything. Yes pretty

much. Have a good one today. Nicky Hayden on the front row. So what is

up with his team mate? Azi. What is going on with Rossi, 3.5 seconds

off the pace. He said that nothing him and the team are trying is

working. Where does that leave the project? It is a tricky situation.

We have been struggling all the weekend. For sure, this is not our

position and as well it's not his position. He is strong and I'm sure

he has inside the strength to be back. Another thing he said is that

he can't change his riding style for this bike. Where does that

leave this? Is there cause to say iters more Valentino and not the

bike? No it is the feeling of the bike, the rider, the tyres, it is

the most important things. Unfortunately we're a little behind

our schedule and we're still struggling. But we only, the only

way we know is to work and hope to find a solution. We're hoping you

do find one. Thank you. The sport needs a solution for Valentino, we

want to see him. He has had some great victorys here. We will have a

word with the third Spanish rider on the grid, the third fastest on

the third row, it is Alvaro Bautista. Making his 150th start.

You have great memories from 2006. But a big and different challenge

this year? Yes very different. The weather conditions today is

difficult, because half of the track is wet and half dry. So we

will see what happens and try to be calm during the first laps and try

to finish the race. You missed the race here last year, through injury,

but you have moved on to Honda. How are you finding the transition to

this bike? This year is so different from last year and with

this bike, I feel more comfortable than with sue Suzy, we struggled to

get a good result. But this bike is totally different and we have to

fix everything, to that I like, but I think we are on the way. Thank

you, all the best today. Difficult for him and like many, trying to

test the bike in mixed conditions is difficult. He had a heavy crash

during practice in the wet. Watch how the bike vibrates. He is trying

to get load on the front, but it is skipping around and he loses the

front. But thankfully, no injuries to report and he is going to be fit

to take his place in seventh place. The news that everyone wants to

know and I will fiemed out from the horse's mouth. Did you find that

mouse yet? No he is back. But we stayed in the hotel and Cal's

manager did that for us. We will look for him later. Azi's at the

back with co-inEdwards. At the back of the grid, Colin, it is not often

we see you at the back of the grid. Iona I'm so far away, I don't know

if the five minute bard came up. What is the game plan from back

here. -- board. The track, it is atrocious conditions, we have had

issues with set up. But the the red light will to out and we will see

what happens. What have the issues been, we saw the big crash

yesterday. That was one of the issues. I don't know. We push and

do what we can do. Good luck. Thanks. Colin, so leading CRT rider,

the top seat on the grid today, Randy De Puniet, a great

performance in qualifying? Yes it was a great beginning of the

weekend. Now we need to achieve this weekend and I'm confident even

if the track is a bit tricky. But it is for the track will be for

everybody the same. I need to be in position after the first lap.

will be hard to be patient. It is an opportunity for you? Yes it is a

good opportunity, but it is also easy to lose something. That is why

I need to wait. Everybody will be quiet during the first lap. Thank

you. We're getting kicked off the grid. He was fourth in 2009. Steve,

Charlie, I was saying, these are the conditions, it is dry but we

have some heavy clouds and if it does spit with rain, Randy De

Puniet is the kind of guy who may take a chance. Yes, one of the

problems of course is that it rains on some parts of the circuits and

other. It is a big old place and it can be raining in the top corner

and not on the pit straights. You can see blue sky to the south and

to the west side. It lack like it is going to rain. Who knows? The

teams don't know either. That is one reason we have flag to flag

racing, they will all start with slicks. But the bikes will be sat

there and ready with wet tyres and if it starts raining and rains

enough, they will be in and changing bikes. But the wet tyres

only last five or six laps if it is drying out. It is a real gamble. I

have a feeling we will have a dry race and Jorge Lorenzo will be

praying for dry one. -- a dry one. We have got the visual paperwork

out of the way and it is time to get ready for a race here. It will

be terrifying, looking at the clouds, feeling the wind, the wind

is picking up, like there is another weather front coming.

De Puniet said we have got to be patient. I think that should be

interesting. We're looking at the grid and honestly it's going to be

an interesting run. You have got to get that first lap out of the way.

The track temperature is cold and the tyres have to get up to

temperature. It should be fast and furious those first laps. 27 laps

around here. 2.74 miles, the length of the track. The longest straight

there. One of the beauties of circuit it flows so nicely. Not the

great big straight you have in Qatar. A different characteristic.

As we see them move away, down into turn one. Remember this time a year

ago, it was this turn which caught out Valentino Rossi and his skitled,

Casey Stoner has been on the podium since. 16 podiums in a row. Let's

hope everyone keeps it clean into row one. That same corner,

Valentino Rossi got skittled by Tony Ellis. That is Mr Bautista. He

has switched from sue suebgy to Honda. I'm not sure if there was a

lot wrong with that bike and it is a tragedy they're not in the Grand

Prix Championship. They're sorely missed. And you're right I remember

Casey Stoner saying I'm sure I could podium with that thing if I

got my hands on it. Alvaro Bautista will be feeling pressure. That bike

was intended for the late Marco si Monday chely. -- Simoncelli. A lot

of people have gone for the new front speck tyre. But the other

tire is being used by the driver. The rest have gone for the new

cold out there that it will get hot, provided it stays dry.

In qualifying the slick tyres will work on the grid, but they will not

be hot enough for the first few turns. There is the championship

and it reflects what happened in our first and only race.

A leash in the power, the traction control, at the launch control, --

unleashing the power. Betrays a, a normally number 26, the one that

does that -- Dani Pedrosa. The regulations are having their

effect. Bit of an issue right at the back. Slight overshoot. Bit of

optimism there. He has stalled it, unfortunately. You would think

somebody would help him. They don't want to be sitting here too long on

the grid. They are making him go off the grid which is unfortunate.

He was on row six. That is Hernandez. He will have to start in

the pit lane. That is not ideal. He we go. Ready for a race. We are

away. Casey Stoner looking pretty threatening. Look at Dani Pedrosa.

Crutchlow going to go through third. Cal Crutchlow picks up a place in

to turn one. It will not be so disastrous for M&S. -- Hernandez.

Nicky Hayden has the look on the inside. Left the door open for the

Ducati. Cal Crutchlow, down the hill. Not in a good place, but he

moves straight across. Nicky Hayden came adrift there. They are all

free there but it was tough in a bottom corner. Nicky Hayden high

and wide, it looks good dry enough out there. Nicky Hayden trying to

find grip, absolutely terrifying. They need at least one lap before

the temperatures are at their optimum. Dovizioso doing well there.

Stefan Bradl nearly T-bone that Valentino Rossi. Down the straight

we go. Dani Pedrosa oh,. Casey Stoner has gone wide. Nicky Hayden,

second best. There is Valentino Rossi now, he is in tenth place.

Crutchlow on the white line, a real kind of late entry corner. He has

gone too wide. It is one of those corners where you have to go in

pretty late and somebody can Janet up the inside. -- jam it. Lorenzo

not at all impressed, waves his arm there. Nicky Hayden absolutely

storming. Fighting back hard. conditions stay this way, I am sure

he will be a force to be reckoned with. Dani Pedrosa or has just got

to get his head down and make a gap well he can. Casey Stoner has got

to deal with Lorenzo. We have got a long way to go. Three of 27 as they

cross the line now. They will all be hoping and praying that the rain

does not arrive. Drivers either want full dry conditions awful wet

conditions. -- or Full wet conditions. Casey Stoner has never

won a race here, hates the track. Three Dani Pedrosa's team-mate

behind it. Through this is a belter. That was late on the brakes,

managed to squeeze through. James Ellison had a good start, up into

14th place. Casey Stoner, he is not going to work it out this weekend.

He has been exercising hard, having therapy for his arm. At the moment

he will be the man, and at the test here he was by far and away the

stand-out performer. He doesn't like it here though. There is

Lorenzo. He got his knee on the ground and waved it away. Was it an

apology? I did think so. 27 laps is doing very strongly in seventh. Ben

Spies is no way to be seen. They will be looking at this in the

Ducati garage, are trying to work out why Valentino is not enjoying

what Nicky Hayden is. Lap record around here, 39.7. The conditions

were an awful lot better when that time was set in 2000 and send --

2010. You only use sick get up one point, some are not even using it.

Maybe the CRT has got a better shot here. No doubt it has less of a

disadvantage. I don't know what is going on with Dani Pedrosa but the

he is falling back. Cal Crutchlow was all over his team-mate a moment

ago. Dani Pedrosa or is fast in the straight line. Fastest lap that

time, Casey Stoner. It is a mystery what has been going on with Dani

Pedrosa. We will have a look. See if he has had a bit of a moment.

Lorenzo did even better, very close. The front two clearing off a little

bit. Nicky Hayden still in touch. The Honda has got so much punch in

a straight line. Crutchlow has regrouped. Look at the big, black

lines. For a breast, that is not going to work. -- four. Nice and

generally. Real option, rear tyre. Could be fun at the end of this

race, the tyres will have an awful lot of life left in there.

Generally after three laps they have used up the best. They are

past the optimum for a soft highlight this, it would be lap

three, lap four. Arthur fantastic stuff for Crutchlow. I think the

Honda, Dani Pedrosa, I think you will get going again, he is not

done for. I think he had a moment, lost a bit of confidence. I can't

believe he would not be able to pick the pace up. Crutchlow carries

so much malt corner speed. Casey Stoner and Lorenzo in the lead, and

then is cracking battle with the next four. Nicky Hayden is just in

front of the group. Ben Spies has gone back to tenth. Ellison in 14th,

a really good run for him. Spare a thought for Hernandez, he didn't

finish the first lap. He started from the pit lane and it is all

over. Never mind, these things happen. Back across the front we go.

These are laps are just tumbling. Already through half a dozen laps.

Casey Stoner set the fastest lap. Lorenzo is not letting him go. The

gap is being extended between him and Nicky Hayden. Dovizioso got to

find a way through. Having to run a little bit wide to save losing

momentum as he comes so close to the back of Nicky Hayden.

fastest part there, the helicopter will show the concertina effect as

they get on the brakes. I think they are all being held up by Nicky

Hayden. This is the battle for third, all of them. Dani Pedrosa

takes the white line, it comes to the inside. Surely, not quite! Just

compromise the line into the corner. The battle for third place, Nicky

Hayden slowing them up. They sound so sweet. The Denmark growl. --

Yamaha. Look at the speed of the Honda. Dani Pedrosa said powering

out of that final corner. They've got their man to come through the

back. Nicky Hayden just lost two spots. He will be metaphorically

scratching his head. Dani Pedrosa getting his head down now. He is

getting a move on. Cal Crutchlow trying to find a way past Nicky

Hayden. Everybody has gone wide. Crutchlow has just mugged him.

Nicky Hayden trying to fight back. Cal Crutchlow has got through.

Nicky Hayden was the slowest of the bunch. Still got 20 laps of the

race remaining. It will be about to has a rear tyre left at the end.

That is the Hondas speed and lightness of Dani at that point.

You can see the rear of the up in and daylight back to Dani Pedrosa.

That is 2.8 seconds from Dani Pedrosa to Jorge Lorenzo. You have

Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden. OK. Cal Crutchlow.

There he is. He Paz he He has passed his team mate. He is the

fastest of the Yamahas. He putting a move on and they're having a

great scrap and Alvaro Bautista has to deliver on this bike. That is a

proper bike he is on. The weight of Germany on his shoulders. This is a

barnstorming second race for him. He is really starting well. He won

Moto 2 last year. He was eighth in Qatar. His first ever MotoGP race.

The front two have sprit. They're three and a half seconds in front

of Dani Pedrosa. -- have split. Do not discount Dani Pedrosa. He seems

to save his tyres and he is always consistent. He is three and a half

second back, but that is not insurmountable. OK, it was 2.9. But

Ben Spies is back in 12th. What is that about? He is having a might

mare. He is fending off Karel Abraham and he is behind Valentino

Rossi. They are 14 seconds down from Casey Stoner. I could see a Mr

Crutchlow having a look at that, Mr Crutchlow having at look at that

factory Yamaha if he carries on like this. There is no reason he

couldn't progress into a factory team. How about Randy De Puniet on

the CRT machine. He is rate up with these boys. It is a bike you ride.

It is the same as the bake I rode of James Ellisoners. It is a CRT

machine, a derived road engine. It's got plenty of mumbo. Ducati

plays Ducati there. Valentino will get the significance of needing to

get past that satellite bike and then Ben Spies and then Karel

Abraham on another Ducati and Randy De Puniet, giant-killing as he is,

on the ART bike. Dani Pedrosa, I toll you what. Cal's given this a

proper old shake. Cal Crutchlow, could he get a podium today and

close the gap on Dani Pedrosa? The last time we had it was McWilliams

on the podium. Cal Crutchlow is rooking -- looking stronger. This

is the battle for third place. is right in the hunt. Dani Pedrosa,

world 125 champion in 2003. Some sed degree he has got. -- pedigree.

He is very much in touch. The last lap, interestingly, Dani Pedrosa

was almost a second slower than Jorge Lorenzo. So I don't know if

he has had a moment and fallen back into the lands of the two yap has,

or he is running ot of -- lands of the two -- hands of the two Yamahas.

I was going to say Cal Crutchlow is running the new modified

Bridgestone front tyre, Dani Pedrosa has the softer of the

compounds, the white band on the front tyre. At the front, that is

the combination that this man has got, Casey Stoner, current world

champion. He has gone for the softer front tyre with that white

band on it. It is a great scrap between these two. Jorge Lorenzo is

not letting this go. You have 0.8 of a second between them. Jorge

Lorenzo is thinking I'm going to sit here and wait for the last five

laps. How's our arm buddie? I think it is who has got maybe riding

style or set up style, but who has got some tyres left of the when

that comes up at the top of the screen, 22 of 27, that is when we

will find who has any rubber left. Ben Spies having a moment there.

Ben Spies, talk about rock and roll. Just about sending him off.

Valentino Rossi is past Hector Barbera. That is the significance

of this shot. Valentino into the top ten in ninth. So that is

something, next on the list is Stefan Bradl. He is eight seconds

further down the road. 16 laps to go. This is the battle for ninth.

Different Ducatis, Hector Barbera is on the old chassis. Valentino

Rossi is on mark 27, or whatever you want to call it. They have

modified it so much. Of course at the start of the season, there is

all the team wishing and praying that he has a race that he is going

to enjoy. Bauv you have to enjoy it to go fast. -- because. At the

moment, I don't think he is enjoying it. Oddly enough,

Valentino is 17 seconds behind pole and Nicky Hayden's nine. So eight

seconds between Valentino and Nicky Hayden. Even though they're only a

couple of spots apart. Cal Crutchlow, the Yamaha, still

harrying that Honda of Dani Pedrosa. Not letting him out of his sight.

Lap times identical. Cal was a tenth quicker last time. Let's

listen to this thing. Whatever that mouse is doing to him. It's not

doing him any harm. Even if he has some sleep deprivation. He is

riding the wheels off of that tech three Yamaha. My favourite part of

the story is that Lucy is the minder. There is your gap, buddie.

That is as close as that has been. That is what a tenth looks like.

The big issue for Cal, he has to get him on the brakes. The problem

is getting Dani Pedrosa on the brake is he has usually stretched

out an advantage on the straight before you put the brakes on. So

you want to be on someone's back wheel when you get to the braking

area and everyone has had this problem with Dani Pedrosa, the

Honda is so fast and he is so light that, situation stops you being on

his back wheel. As I was joking, he has the frontal area of a golf ball

and he is light. So that is less mass to pull up, so he can brake

later. In the renowned for his late braking. But got to say that these

thousand CC machines are making racing more interesting, you can

make a mistake and get awhich with it. With the 800 you had to nail it.

The electronics had to be right, with the more torque they have,

different riding styles can work. That Honda just jumps out of the

corner. Stoner made a good job of that. Cal appears to be having to

ride that Yamaha harder to keep in touch. Still pushing, 14 laps to go.

His team mate, Andrea Dovizioso, you can see in the middle of the

screen is closing these two down a touch. He finished third in the

World Championship last year. But riegd Hondas for most of his career.

That tells you how well Cal Crutchlow is doing. He is in front

of the guy that finished third on the same bike. Very much so. Down

the hill we go. That fastest part of circuit into Dry Sac. This

circuit peels off and pours its way down the hill. It is so physically

demanding. There is not a straight that you're not climbing up the

front of the briebg to keep the front wheel down. -- bike. You are

jamming it through the gears and as soon as you get into fifth, you're

back on the brakes into turn six at Dry Sac. It is hugely demanding I

cannot tell you how athletic these guys are. How physically demanding

it is. Jorge Lorenzo very much in touch. That gap is as constant as

you like. He is matching him and sitting there, waiting, probably

not hassling him too much. I don't think he has anything up his sleeve.

I think No 99, Jorge Lorenzo, he is clinging on there. But he is hoping

he will see what Honda come back towards him. That is what happened

six laps to go in round one in Qatar. Let's have a ride with him.

A short shift there. This is Dry Sac on to the hill and to the

longest straight. The late apex there. Front wheel up in the air.

Just grabbing sixth gear, but for seconds. Missed the cornary bit

there. Just got in there a bit too fast. -- missed the corner a bit

there. Just got in too fast. Look at the lines, the black lines being

left by everyone through that corner. The double right here. The

Nieto corner. And then you have the fast ones. Fourth gear. I reckon he

is a bit closer. Last time around he was 0.79. I'm sure he is closer.

You just think that because you're riding so hard. He has got his knee

down. It was 0.72 last time. Coming up to the line and Stoner goes

through 0.... Well OK it was a 100th closer. Well ridden. Speaking

of the devil, that is the other Yamaha, ridden by Cal Crutchlow and

he is still in fourth. Dani Pedrosa has banged in the fastest lap and

who banged in right behind him? Cal Crutchlow. Even quicker. You're not

supposed to do him. That is due caty, Ducati, and Yamaha. How about

that a 40.01, crutch. Fastest lap there. -- Cal Crutchlow. The

fastest lap of the race that I think. That was Aleix Espargaro.

There is James Ellison. Ore my son, don't do that Wen we're looking at

you. He made way there. Bike No 51, team mate to Alvaro Bautista,

slides through there. James was blushing a little as he knew he was

on cam RSPCA they're racing through field. Colin Edwards is still last.

Whatever ailed him is still ailing him. He is lapping at four seconds

off the pace. Whatever they have got, and they have tested a lot,

the big test was here three weeks before the start of the season. 0.7

of a second the last time. 12 laps remaining of this. Front wheel

comes up. Just pouring over there as he nails it over the line and it

is 0.9. They have stretched a fraction out. Last year we joked

about the Honda lane and the fact that it was back. The Yamaha had

all sorts of issues, particularly in terms of getting out of corners,

but not any more. I think the change from 800, what will we see

here? Come back to that. We will have a look at that. Dani Pedrosa,

the man always seems to squeeze a bit more out of it. Cal Crutchlow

is on the outside, but he gets squeezed. Nicely into third place.

It wasn't the start where it went on. It was down the bottom of the

corner, Dry Sac is where the action seemed to take place. Oh! Tough

stuff there! There was an excuse me on the way through. That didn't

really cost Nicky Hayden, even though he got a hip and shoulder.

He got back on term and led the group. But he has run out of tyres

or whatever it is. Stefan Bradl is now in front of Nicky Hayden.

Pleasing for Cal Crutchlow, dv dove got dropped off and his pace has

dropped off a bit. -- Andrea Dovizioso. You can see the whole

front four there and third and fourth battle between Dani Pedrosa

and crutch, they have dropped off a We saw him run wide -- James

Ellison. That is where you are, that is the Lapper board for

Lorenzo. No worry from behind, three seconds back. Get your head

down in front. Did its year so, behind his team-mate. -- did it CSO.

This shows you the real or been. See how hard you have to work. You

or are just standing on the foot dressed, sliding your weight around.

The bikes way 157 kilos, the riders around 65 unless you are Dani

Pedrosa and you are 51. He squeezes himself under the screener, trying

to produce the frontal area, make a huge difference on top speed.

kilometres per hour. Hundred and 75, and good nature? Yes. Casey Stoner

had a good moment. The last time they went over the start-finish 20

was 0.863. That was less than half a second. Double right hand. I

don't know what went on with Casey Stoner. Everybody is standing up

here. Nine laps to go. Have we got tyre problems? Valentino Rossi

sitting in 19th position. -- ninth position. What is happening? Hector

Barbera was an old team-mate off Lorenzo. Apparently they hated each

other so much they wouldn't get the same point. Casey Stoner leads the

race but Lorenzo can smell the exhaust fumes, he can sense there

is an issue in front of him. Was it just a slight mistake, or has he

got a problem? It is still closer 0.37. Less than that now. This is

replicating round one. They might as well just have on the lap board,

look behind you! Last time round Stennett did -- Casey Stoner did.

My axeman pressure on the reigning world championship, the stands are

going berserk. Look at the gap now. It wasn't as bad. He is chewing

faster, you can tell he is worried. Casey Stoner, can he be group?

Eight laps remaining. We are into arm pumping time if you are going

to get it. We are definitely into Tyre time with that stuffed rear

take a lot of time out of Casey Stoner there. I would like to get a

replay of where the mistake was. Michele Pirro has entered the pits.

There he comes. Carol Abraham has crashed out now. -- Karel. Rider OK,

that is the good news there. Lorenzo having a look, this is not

maths, this is opportunism. The Yamaha is all over it. I wonder if

it is a front tyre issue. He has gone for the softer of the options,

as has Lorenzo, be different motorcycles do different things.

They will both be having issues. If it had been perfectly dry they

would have gone for the harder option. No good having the right

tie at the end if you crash on lap one. They didn't really help him a

lot. The lead at the front is see lot. The lead at the front is see

faster than the guys at the front. We have had word from the pits,

Michele Pirro, it was an engine problem. That is him out of the

race. Dani Pedrosa is on the hunt. There he is. So quick through the

end of the slack. That corner where Rossi made that move in 2005. A

defensive line from Casey Stoner, moves in forward a little bit from

the outside of the track, their actual racing line. He has read the

board. Having what happened, he pushed the front too much, the tyre

would have had enough, still got six laps to go. I think that is

what the mistake was. Dani Pedrosa is usually the light on the ties,

he is the one who doesn't wear his tie is as much. -- a lighter.

Stoner rides it like he has still won it, all over the bike, moving

to the inside. Big mistake there. Lorenzo, exactly the same thing,

ran into the corner, I think the front tyres are saying, listen,

sunshine, I would like this race to finish. That is the feeling the

riders are getting. Running into that corner, you cannot pull the

break any more. Use an earlier breaking point. But you don't know

you need that until it has already gone wrong. The front tyres look

absolutely, can't say the word. They do look well worn, Steve.

Crutchlow, still just behind Pedrosa. Honda, Yamaha, Honda comic

can cling on, maybe something in the last laugh. That is Hector

Barbera. They are in a battle a few seconds down the road from Nicky

best? Casey Stoner tends to be more aggressive, but Lorenzo likes to

keep the wheels in line. He is not sliding around. When your tyres are

worn around it is difficult to ride smoothly. We have got two races, we

have a race for third, and race for third. This is a credit to the

Yamaha take three team. The guy who lapped fastest? Cal Crutchlow.

Three-tenths faster than Lorenzo. We have finally got a British rider.

Those are tyres, they have had it. Look at the shoulder on the left

side, the degradation is heavier and heavier. Watch Lorenzo, Cal

Crutchlow rather, he was all over Dani Pedrosa right at the end of

that lap. It will be feeling like you were running on wet tyres. When

the ties start rolling around, you get no how much you have got. A

horrible feeling. You have just got to write it and do your best, --

ride it. That is the line he takes, he tends to take the wider entry

into that top corner. There they are, it is all coming together.

Again, Cal Crutchlow, last time around was two-tenths faster than

any other of the front guys. Randy is right in amongst the factory

machines. James Ellis and his third in that lap -- James Ellis and his

third in that lot. -- Ellison. The electronics will be working

overtime, trying to fathom out what is going on. The Tigers are way

past their sell-by date. The crowd stands. -- the Tigers. Three laps

shillings on a rare day doing this, it is not impossible. -- Lorenzo.

The crowd will be willing him to do it. I think we can safely say Casey

Stoner doesn't have arm pump issues. I think he has tyre issues.

Lorenzo is seriously close now. This is where he overcooked it

before. Both struggling to get into the apex. Both absolutely on the

ragged edge on the optimum line. This will seem like an eternity for

Casey Stoner and he will know very well Lorenzo is there. When you're

in the straight line and a bike is a bright the brakes will work the

same say you did know until you try and take it in and that is where

the issue comes. You have got to work it out before you get there.

The next lap is even worse. contact patch is getting smaller

and smaller. He is good through here, down into a last turn. Is

this a dress-rehearsal? The crowd can smell something going on. We

are about to start the penultimate. Just checking that out, if I do

this... They will go mad here. are still closing them down. Dani

Pedrosa can see them, can see that gap diminishing. Cal Crutchlow it

in fourth place. Crutchlow is seriously established as a

frontrunner now. Absolutely. over everybody, fantastic. From the

qualifying. Just missed pole position. Interestingly, different

lines, Casey Stoner to the wide entry. We talk about this move

lines. When your tyres are worn out you have got to stop in the middle

of the corner, fire it out and it is all about changing your riding

style, changing your approach to the corners. It is so diminished in

its effect. You just have to get it stood up as fast as you possibly

can. The tyres will be triangular Pedrosa got anything left. Is that

Ellison pulling in? OK guys, here we go, sit back and turn your clars

up. This is the last lap. -- collars. Stoner has eased down. He

has got half a second. One mistake and he will have the laughing

Spaniard all over him. Elson has entered the pits. -- Ellison. Last

time Crutchlow was the fastest. But he wasn't, Stoner nailed it a

40.for Stoner. Oh no Randy De Puniet. He has run out of fuel.

utter... That is so unfair. I'm sorry that is a nightmare. He was

behind Ben Spies. Stoner must have had something up his slaev. Look at

the gap he has got. -- sleeve. Look at the rubber on the track, they're

called marbles. The other thing it is the slowest guy of the front

four was Jorge Lorenzo, he is falling back. In fact Crutchlow is

nearer Stoner's time. Jorge Lorenzo has run out of puff. He doesn't

have a radio. He doesen know he has pulled away. Jorge Lorenzo is

closer to these boys now. Boy oh boy, its Jorge Lorenzo going south.

They can taste it. We're coming to the last corner. Nobody behind you

Casey. He doesn't know. He's got it. Keep our eyes peeled for what

happens with P3. Back and across the line and Stoner wins in Spain,

his first one. Jorge Lorenzo, nice work, Dani Pedrosa just holds off

Cal Crutchlow for the last place on the podium. But Cal Crutchlow

smokes this guy, his team mate, Andrea Dovizioso. What a ride from

Cal Crutchlow heed that winner in view. He was only four seconds back.

That was a terrific ride for Cal Crutchlow for the man from the Isle

of Man. The best MotoGP ride he has had. Better than Qatar. And there

is more. How about this, Alvaro Bautista got up for sixth, Stefan

Bradl is seventh, Nicky Hayden eighth in front of Valentino Rossi

who saw off that pesky Hector Barbera for tenth. They had a good

old scrap there. There were scraps all the way through field. I do, do

feel sorry for Randy De Puniet. sure he has run out of fuel. That

is a nightmare. He was braerting down the neck of Ben feez. There is

Aleix Espargaro, remember him? He is back and he is the leading CRT

and he finish in the top dozen. He has got to improve. What happened

to Ben Spies? That was one heck of a race between these guys. That was

an extraordinary, extraordinary duel. Valentino Rossi was six

seconds from Nicky Hayden and Nicky Hayden had a belting run, but he

seemed to lose it. I think a lot of it was about having soft tyres.

Everything was good at the start, but not a at -- but not at the end.

Stoner with his times he had extra. Also look at that, he Daid 40.5, so

did Cal Crutchlow. So did Dani Pedrosa. But Jorge Lorenzo was a

40.9. Jorge Lorenzo kind of ran out of it. Jorge Lorenzo will still

lead the World Championship, because Stoner had a third in Qatar.

He has a first and a third and Jorge Lorenzo has a first and a

second. Well that wasn't wah they wanted. But not bad. You have still

got two Spaniards on the podium and Stoner, he said in quat a I have

got this bike buttoned down, it was just my arm. I think that is what

it was. He will be relieved. Stoner, he taps the Honda, but most part of

him will be relieved that arm pump issue has gone. A lot can come from

the winter season, you're not riding as much. Well ridden, Dani

Pedrosa. Et he was right on it -- he was right on it and he had a bad

moment. But he came back strongly. OK so Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani

Pedrosa, but let's not forget the first satellite, a great job for

Cal Crutchlow and a great job by kech three. Yes I was on the wall

through there. You were having problems through the race. What a

fantastic performance from Cal. Yeah. I think clearly even much

stronger result and much, you know, exciting race than Qatar. You know,

at the end of the race him and Dani were really quicker than the first

two and I don't want to reflay race, but with much, with a slightly

better start, I mean in the first two laps, maybe something was

possible. But it was a great race. I was scared he would try something

too difficult on Dani. Was -- but he did a sensible race. Yeah I'm

very happy. Perhaps you can watch the race late we are a drink.

will injoy it a lot more. Thank you. Well done Cal. At the end of the

race he was 2.4 seconds off Stoner who won it. That is how close he

was. This boy is world class. have an alien in our midsts.

started brilliantly last year. But luck went against him. He got

beaten up a bit the first couple of laps. Sometimes it is being unlucky.

But without that he could have been on the podium. Stoner is overjoyed

by this. So is the man that dragged him from Ducati. I'm sure he got a

bonus for that. That was a good idea as it happens. So Jorge

Lorenzo still maintains his Championship lead. Look at that

tyre. He got a bit of pick up on it. The shoulder. He looks across, why

does the Honda look all right still. That is set up. Stoner is hard on

the machinery. But it just was there. So Jorge Lorenzo can leave

here absolutely delighted. Azi, he must be a happy boy. AZI FARNI:

Well done. We thought it was tyres, but you told me it was your arm.

The tyres were spinning a bit. The bike was fantastic. We improved it

from yesterday and conditions were tricky at the start. But I was

probably, that was probably the greatest race I have done. We had a

terrible start and got boxed in. I made my way through the pack. I got

to the front and tried to realise some laps. Felt the arm pump come

on, I thought the last one I tries tried to ease off and save myself

and it didn't work. Today, I gave it everything and when I saw two

laps to go. My arm got a bit better. I held on for last two laps.

went hard for it. Well done. Thank you. The best race of his career.

That is saying something. But what about Cal Crutchlow? He can't have

been far off the best race of his career. Where does that rank? Two

seconds off the race winner? Yes. It was a tough race. But I'm happy

enough. Well I'm happy, considering I don't like the track and I don't

like this track, it is too tight for my style. But Yamaha's done a

good job. We have worked hard, you know? There noise reason why we

can't be up there. -- there is no reason why we can't be up there. It

will be a difficult year, but a good performance from the team and

we weren't far from a podium I tried my best. A great performance

from yourself. Well done. Back to you Charlie. CHARLIE COX: Jorge

Lorenzo is still leading the Championship. Storn has closed up.

Dani Pedrosa in third. -- Stoner. Jorge Lorenzo that is not bad,

still leading. AZI FARNI: You wanted to get a win, but that a

good race. I try to win this race. In front of my people. But today it

is too much fast for me. Also the front tyre was a little destroyed.

I couldn't do more. Second place, was a position for the Championship.

Well done. CHARLIE COX: He pushed so hard. I thought he was closing

down storn. When that arm pump issue came up, that was backing him

up. But this guy didn't run out of puff. Nor did Dani Pedrosa.

FARNI: You worked hard for it? I made, I was too careful in the

beginning. I thought the race would be more cautious in the beginning.

But instead Casey pulled out a big rhythm. When I cowl get past Nicky

and the other, they were gone. So it was difficult to get the rhythm.

After that it was hard to get back. But I was making time back. And I

was all the time next to me and behind me. But you know, not really

enough to get with them in the last lap. I was close. And unfortunately

not enough. But volume is good and I hope to continue like this and do

good in the next one. Thank you. CHARLIE COX: That was a great ride

from Dani Pedrosa. But it went wrong for a couple of laps. MATT

ROBERTS: You felt if there was a couple of laps more, they could

have closed that gap and we could have had a four-way scrap. But we

can't be too fussy, we saw racing all the way through pack. This was

a great battle between Stefan Bradl and Nicky Hayden. The first couple

of laps, it has been a while since we have racing like that. Yes it

was tight. I noticed Nicky Hayden back in the garage there, shaking

his head. He was really in touch for a while. He was running third

for ages. Pressing on and the whole thing fell away. He has ridden well.

But that is about the extent of it. Those tyres are chewed to bits. The

shoulder's nailed. Whatever they did with that Ducati, it wasn't

enough to hold for a race distance. They will be scratching their heads

about that. Well the next race is in Portugal next week and we're all

going to be scratching our heads and pushing to find out more, to

see what happened. There at Ducati this week. It has been a difficult

weekend for Italian factory. But for Honda, no problems so far this

season. Casey Stoner wins the Spanish Grand Prix. But Jorge

Lorenzo still leads the Championship. Stay with us and