Le Mans MotoGP

. That was the greatest race I've ever done to be honest. Good stuff

from Stoner. He never won here before, but Casey Stoner takes the

Hello, we are at sunny Le lance for round four of the MotoGP World

Championship. But over the past three days, the French Grand Prix

has been a mere back story to the absolute bombshell that was dropped

in the pre-event press conference on Thursday afternoon by the

world's number one rider. This has come after a long time of

thinking, a lot of time talking with my family and my wife and this

has been coming for a couple of years now. But at the end of this

2012 season I will not be racing in the 2013 Championship. I will be

finishing my career at the end of this season in MotoGP and go

forward in different things in my life. After so many years of doing

the sport which I love, myself and my family made so many sacrifices

for this, after so many years of trying to get to where we have

gotten to at this point, this sport has changed a lot and it's changed

to the point where I'm not enjoying it. I don't have the passion for it.

So at this time, it's better if I retire now.

Wow. I still can't quite believe it now, to be honest. At 26 years of

age, with two world titles under his belt and a third potentially on

the way at the end of the season, Casey Stoner will be walking away

from racing. Quite an incredible moment really in any sport that he

would do that. Obviously, he's unhappy with the way the sport is

going, moving towards CRT racing, which is less of the prototype

racing that he loves, but even so, there has to be much more to it

than that. With the benefit of a little bit of hindsight at least,

he sat down with us on Friday to give us a little bit more behind

his reasons. 24 hours on from that shock press

conference, it was a shock to us anyway, I'm presuming you haven't

changed your mind. I guess the question on everybody's mind is

still why? Yeah, that's the question everybody

wants one answer to, and to be honest, there's not one thing I can

say that gave me this reason to retire. You know, the accumulation

of a lot of different things and a lot of thins over the years, a lot

of decisions that have been made. I just don't see myself being here in

the future and enjoying it. I'm struggling to enjoy it as it is now.

I feel like I've only got this year left in me and after that it

wouldn't be right to take a ride away from someone else, to take

money out when I haven't got the real heart in it.

Takes a lot of courage to walk away from something like this at the age

of 26 when you are at the peak of your powers as well, probably in

the best form of your life. I guess that's something that people

struggle to understand too? I think the best form of my life would

never really stop. You can always keep growing and keep going. Same

thing, where does it stop, where do you stop and I think that's where

most people, many times they get it wrong, as they say that they want

to retire when they stop enjoying it. But they keep going further and

further then to the point where they're really not enjoying

themselves, they dislike the sport and leave in bad terms with it. I

want to try and leave on as good a terms as I can with what I'm doing

and try and enjoy it and still being able to get results is a

great way to leave. As I said, you are still only 26.

But another thing perhaps people don't realise is just how long you

have been at this game? Yes, well, you know, we came over to the UK

when I was 14 so we've been doing this for quite a long time and by

the time I retire I'll be 27. We have been at it a long, long time

and putting lot of effort towards it. With all the effort that we put

in, in the past especially, we got burnt so many times.

There's just been so many things over the years. Even up to the

point where I thought I was, I thought I had a family in the

manufacturer, then they go behind your back, and you know, really

burn you hard. Considering all the effort and everything that we've

put in, it was just time after time it kept happening again and I've

really found somewhere that I'm happy in Honda but unfortunately, I

just haven't got it any more, I haven't got that feeling for when

I'm out there riding. I haven't got the excitement that I used to have.

The only thing that gets my heart racing now is the actual race and

that's the smallest part of the job. Has your decision perhaps been

affected or your mindset by seeing perhaps other people gone too long

in their profession? I think it was always something

when I was younger as well. I never wanted to race until I was in my

mid 30s. I could still be very competitive. I was married young,

I've had a child young and I want to settle down with my family and

watch my little girl grow up without the stress and hustle and

bustle. I know it's difficult, if not

impossible for you to say right now, but would you definitively rule out

a return in the future? Yes, I won't, you know, I said to somebody

before maybe if it came back to two strokes and maybe 7 52 strokes,

something like that, it would be a heck of a lot of fun, but still I

don't think it would be permanently. It might be for the odd little ride

here and there to enjoy myself but I can't see myself coming back.

Casey, whatever you do in the future, we wish you the best of

luck and it's been a great career to watch. Thank you very much.

Really it has. There's pretty much no chance we'll go back to two

strokes, certainly not 7 52 strokes. It seems that's it. Having listened

to that interview and had a few days to get over the shock news,

what are your thoughts? He's definitely not coming back, it's

what he told you. It's shocking. My great disappointment is we are

never going to see how far he got. I think we both agree, he's read

hot for this year, could have strung three in a row target.

the feeling it's like a cry for help, he's upset by people in

Ducati not keeping him in the family. If he'd have been dumped by

girlfriends and things as many times as I had, he's been upset but

he wants people to take note of what's happened in the past. Do you

think he'll come back then? he'll get bored, no question about

it, you are a long time retired. He'll do something else. When he

was with Ducati, he's never really forgiven them over the mystery

illness which turned out to be lactose intolerance. He made his

decision and exacted his revenge by quitting them. I think if you cut

him, he bleeds, he gets upset. One guy who certainly knows him

waepbld knows all about the pressures of performing

consistently over several years at top level here is the five time

world champion Mick Doonan who joins us from the Gold Coast in

Australia where I'm sure the weather's a bit better. But I guess

you woke up to the news on Friday morning? What was your first

reaction to it Yes, look, I didn't know how to

take it, whether it was just part of some negotiations for next

year's contract, to be honest. But it seems like he's wanting to

really retire at the end of the year. I was going to say, Mick, you

retired at a later age, but you are a long time retire and get a buzz

from other things. But at 26, it's kind of early, it seems, to me?

There is a good 50 or 60 years left in him really isn't it, so it's a

long time to be retired. I was listening in on your interview with

him before and he has been at it for a long time, but still, I would

have thought he's really riding unbelievably at the moment. I would

have thought to at least have another year or two left in him. I

have spoken to him earlier, that was at Christmas time, he was at

home here and he had mentioned that he wasn't enjoying it and was

thinking of getting out sooner rather than later. But I didn't

think at the start of the fourth round of this year's Championship

he'd make that announcement. Do you share our view that there's still

the best to come from him? There was still much more to get out of

him this year and next as well? He's really just getting into his

stride and the things he's doing with that bike, you know, they were

amazing. I'm sure the bike's good but what he's doing with it is just

amazing stuff. I think that's probably the other thing. I think

people, when you are winning and doing it the way he's doing it,

people always say he's doing this or that, I think he takes things

too much to heart. Instead of getting on and understanding

there's nothing in it and people are not trying to break him down.

Are you watching the race tonight? I will be watching from the

comforts of my dry couch. Thanks, mate. You guys enjoy the rain over

there. You won't be missing it today, I can tell you, it's

horrible out there. These are the reasons why you probably do retire.

Thank you very much, Mick. EnYour Evening. Worth pointing out

that Mick was 29 when he won his first title, went on to win another

five. Casey still 26. The boys are on the grid behind us. They are the

thoughts of the three wise men. What about the guys that Casey's

literally leaving behind, not for the first time? Yes, it's a

surprise because he's very young, same age as me, and very talented.

It's a big pressure here, it's a long time. Even when you are young,

it's a long time racing. But you have to put the things on a balance

and take what's best for you, you know. Maybe for him now, the

balance is not right. I understand him, I respect his position and I

respect him because he's been great all the time. Casey is one of the

strongest. We lose one of the most talented rider in history. Next

year he will not be there, so it's going to be strange for the riders

this year for sure. Yes, it was a big surprise, because personally I

think that he continue minimum another season. Yes, it's a pity,

especially for MotoGP because we lose a great rider.

You know, I kind of saw it coming, I figured he might be having

another year left in him and if he retired this year I didn't think

he'd announce it. But he's got a family and a kid now and the MotoGP

Championships are off, even if you are single, family-wise. He wants

to have another life, just not racing and fair play to him. That's

what he wants and that's what he said he wanted even years ago so he

doesn't really surprise me but it's a shake-up for the Championships

for sure. I try to convince him to stay here,

but I couldn't. Maybe this is my fault.

If the rumours are true that Honda have offered to double his money,

I'm not sure that there's that much more that can be done. We want to

try and get a word with this man who's in another interview. Still

going strong at 43. Great to see you. Your thoughts on Casey Stoner,

a different scenario to yourself leaving the sport at 26. Can you

sympathise with his reasons why? mean he will have his reasons,

otherwise he wouldn't have decided to do that. You have to respect

that. You give so much to your sport and there's a moment when you

think that's it. I know when it was for me at the time, but for him

being so young, he has the option obviously to not quit for the rest

of his life. He can take a break and a spwatical and may come back.

-- sabbatical. Valentino Rossi has announced he's going to stay in

MotoGP for another two years, we don't know which bike it will be on

yet. Do you think he's still got it and can win races at this level?

great champion like him, you don't lose that. Obviously he's going

through a difficult period right now, do you compare it a little to

your own situation? No. I think everybody has his own situation and

circumstance. I don't think they are comparable. There might be some

similarities at the end of the day, but let's see. If he decides to

leave another three years it's because he's motivated and wants to

do it. Good luck with the rest of your season, Michael. Valentino

Rossi announced at the same press conference as Casey that he will be

staying in MotoGP for the next two years. As Michael said, there is

always the possibility that Casey could go home for a couple of years

and decide to come back just like he did. But there's no doubt that

he is leaving at the end of the season and he does so in the form

of his life. He's taken back-to- back wins in the last two races,

two circuits he had never won at before, and he managed to expend

his podium run to an entire season. He had the pace. He had the poll

position. He is always at the top of the time sheet.

Steener has done -- Stoner has done it. Stoner has done it!

This will be his 30th win. A good flight this.

Casey Stoner has finished on the podium at every single race this

year. Casey Stoner is the world champion!

And Stoner wins. Twelve months without stepping off

the box, that's some achievement, but more importantly than that for

Casey, it moved him to the top of the current standings by a point

ahead of Jorge Lorenzo. Cal Crutchlow lying fourth in the

championship. Just a sign of how well Cal has done in the opening

three rounds of this season. The weather conditions out here are not

good at all. Cal Crutchlow will be starting from the second row.

Really anything could happen here today. No Colin Edwards on the grid.

You may remember a couple of weeks ago, he had that crash in practise

when he was hit by Randy de Puniet. He broke his collarbone. He went to

Barcelona for an operation. He had the collarbone plated up. He has

been sent out to Texas to make a slow reroverry. We have a

replacement for him. He will be bat the back of the grid. No surprises

there. A surprise is that we have Dani Pedrosa on poll position. His

His first pole of the season. Malaysia 2011 was Last Bid pole

position appearance and after mixed conditions in qualifying yesterday,

he managed to stick that Honda back at the front of the grid. He has

done it here four times before in motto GP, but never hanged to win a

race -- managed to win a race here. Not the case for Casey Stoner. He

was on pole last year and he won the race. He will be looking to do

that from second on the grid. He is a wet specialist. So that's your

front two on the grid. Charlie, it is chaotic down here. We are

getting water in the works so why don't you run us through the rest

OK, what a bit of work. Stoner got held up, Jorge Lorenzo reckons he

did, but Dani Pedrosa really got the whole shot. This is his first

pole position since Malaysia last year. He says, "I am not a pole man,

year. He says, "I am not a pole man, but it is quite handy." On pole

position, it is Honda and Honda, alongside Dani Pedrosa is Stoner.

When you have got Cal Crutchlow in the middle of the second row

alongside Jorge Lorenzo. Karel Abraham and he is flying the flag

bet against Dani Pedrosa going into the first corner first, would you?

Well, he is usually the favourite to get into that first turn first

and he does so from pole position. Alongside him and a contender for

the podium today is Andrea Dovizioso.

He is a wet specialist. He doesn't like talking on the grid to anybody.

So as he grabbed a -- so we grabbed a quick word with him a while ago.

The first first front row with the Yamaha. Maybe you prefer a fight

Yamaha. Maybe you prefer a fight today? I prefer to ride in the dry.

I mean this is a race, it is OK. Normally in the wet I'm fast, but

in the warm up, the feeling wasn't that 100% and the grip here is

really difficult, tricky and we have to do some changes for the

race and we hope it will be in the good direction. It is still raining

so the race will be wet. What will be the plan for the race?

Sorry. What will be the plan for the race?

Fortunately, I start on the first row and it is really important to

start on front when it is wet, when the grip is like this. But in this

race, you have to be really smooth because there is no grip and it is

so easy to crash. I don't know, everybody is aggressive. At the

moment, I don't have a strategy. So no strategy from Andrea

Dovizioso or at least that's what he is telling us! What about his

team-mate, Cal Crutchlow. He has got a strategy for keeping warm. A

woolly hat. He looks like a burg burglar! There is a nice little pep

talk. A quick word word with Cal. Get the boss out of the way. It is

not as if it is his home Grand Prix. You set the fastest time of the

session, are you comfortable with the bike in these conditions?

I think it is a disaster for everyone. We all want add dry race,

but you are going to have a wet race over the year at some point.

Hopefully it is now and not Silver stone. I think we did a good job in

warm up and we struggled in the qualifying. We could have

challenged for the pole position. We went out with the wrong set and

we didn't have time to change it. It is a long, long race, 28 laps in

these conditions and we will have to do the best job we can and shame

about the weather for your hair. The quiff is going sideways.

Set-up problems, you know what it is like.

I won't wear one of those hats, that's for sure.

Let's hope can keep it up because he will be a contender.

People getting in your way, no respect, some people.

I believe you have got somebody else who is looking tor a here --

We have seen one French rider win a race today. I won't give it way in

case you are waiting for the highlights. I'm with Randy de

Puniet. There is a few thousand French fans here and they have been

loud all day. I guess you want to give them a good show? Yes, sure, I

will do my best to. The conditions are very very different compared to

the practise, but the bike is a little bit better than the warm up

when my feeling wasn't good and I really hope to take a lot of points

this afternoon. What can be the plan with

conditions like this? The plan is to do my best and stay focused. I

think this will be a crazy race. Is it hard to stay focused knowing

there is so much support out there? It is more hard to stay focused on

this track. Good luck, Randy.

I want to show you Michele Pirro, the Italian rider for Honda on the

CRT bike. Let's see that gum shield. Pretty cool. The weekend was going

well. Warm up a little bit difficult in full wet conditions.

Have you managed to find something for the race? Yes, the weekend is

dry conditions and it is not so bad. In the wet conditions, it is very

difficult with this bike and OK, the race will be very difficult,

but I try the maximum and I don't know.

What's the feeling with this bike on this track? With the dry

conditions, not so bad, but in wet conditions, it is very rubbish.

Michele Pirro riding the British British British chassis. I was

hoping to get a word with Dani Pedrosa's crew chief who is making

a few final adjustments here. Dani on pole position and how is

the wet setting for him? You had a good dry setting yesterday, does

that translate well? The conditions change always. It is more more

better than in the morning so we will know after the race!

I hope it is nice. You said it, thanks, Mike.

Woolly hats are the fashion on the grid! We are getting thrown off. I

was looking around for Scott Reading because he finish on the

podium in the the race. We had spoke about Chris earlier on, he

joins the party in place of Colin Here backstage at the fans area and

I bumped into an old face, Chris. Welcome, back to the pod dock, how

is it? It is good. It has been a couple of of years since I have

been here. The weekend has gone great. It is hard work, but I'm

having fun. I know you got married recenty?

Well, yeah, that keeps you busy. Full-time husband. I had a knee

injury and there was a long rehab from that, I got married and I have

been working on getting fit, but I'm excited to be back on a

motorbike. And that's the CRT, it was

different to the last one that you were on. What's The feeling on it?

It is not the easiest bike to race. It is a fun bike. It is a race bike.

We are on good Fire Service and suspension and -- tyres and

suspension. There is a good bunch of guys in the garage. Let's see

how we get on this weekend. You have good memories of Le Mans

from 2007? Yes, 2007, was, you know my only win and it was here and

Suzuka is a special place and it brings back a lot of memories, but

it is great to get on a bike here. We will just do what we can.

It has been fun talking to you. I just heard your name out there. I

think you are wanted. ready, Stoner's eyes there, he is

thinking to himself, "There is weight off my mind." It is a hard

thing to do, knowing it is the end of the season for you.

When the lights go out, he will be ringing the neck of that bike. It

will be a race of who stays on. You will see the piercing eyes of lots

of the riders. They are wearing clear visors. There is double

misting systems. It is a recipe for steaming up. You have a hot head

and it is damp. The view from the helicopter that is struggling today

in these conditions. They are vying for the wettest race of the year

and it is nearly as close as Silverstone last year. Silverstone

in less than a month from now, it is hot and sunny because I've

ordered it. I'm camping. It is so slippy, we

have just seen this the supporting races a crash fest. 18 riders

didn't finish. I was watching that and riders were falling off doing

the most innocent of things. It is slippery than a greasy pig out

there. It is kind of horrible. The guys

were tipping off. Because you have got lots of different surfaces,

part of the track is used as a 24- hour race. That Museum Corner, it

was catching a lot of people out. It seemed toffs catching people out,

but this part here, this is Turn - we are on Turn eight. Back to nine,

down the bottom end, and then, of course, we get to the start and

finish turn and into four, is all the Le Mans, 24-hour part of the

circuit. The visibility is unbelievable. If

that's what we can get out of a camera, what do you think these

guys have with water over their visors. That is a place where we

have seen lots of people crash. The race that Chris won, that's the

same corner where Nicky Hayden through it away. That's where that

took place at this meeting last year, of course, fairly early on in

the race. They had a ride on pen A Dani Pedrosa will need to get that

200 horsepower off the track because you don't want to be in the

pack when you get to turn one. There will be pushing and shoving

and bad visibility from the spray. Watch out for Valentino Rossi. He

looked sharp this morning. Only on the row three of the start of the

grid. Dani Pedrosa always kicks off well.

One of the most difficult corners here, super fast followed by a

here, super fast followed by a tight lift. Risky chance of going

round the outside, but it can be done. It can start. If you can stop,

we'll find out soon. Dani Pedrosa. There's a rider down. Tangle on the

tee off. Back at the front, it's Dani Pedrosa leading. A great big

lunge there from Stoner. He's just held on to it. Lorenzo. Can he keep

it neat? He can. Told you to watch out for Rossi as well. He's in the

thick of it. That is an absolute nightmare. His home Grand Prix.

That is just what he does not want. He spun up and fired him off. What

an ignaminious way to end your Grand Prix. Whatever you said to

him, it didn't work. The French fans will all be going home now and

the car park will be cleared as we watch Valentino Rossi going on. It

was a very, very strong, brave start from Lorenzo. Look at this.

Three abreast. That is pretty big. Hayden was right back. Lorenzo

makes the lunge. I wouldn't want to send him out there with slick tyres

in these conditions. Won't be any change of bikes in this generally

because it's staying wet. Lorenzo's made it stick. Nicely planted in

there. The number 99 machine. Jorge Lorenzo leaves the race. Stoner

behind. Valentino Rossi, look at that. Cal Crutchlow having a look

at his team-mate. Cal was the faster rider in the warm-up this

morning. This is a long 28 lap race, it's who is going to be up right at

the end. He was very, very comfortable in

the slippery conditions. Obviously Steve, everybody is getting their

feel for it. Don't want to chance around too much, as we saw in the

supporting classes. That is a revelation. Lorenzo felt he was

held up in qualifying but boy he has some red hot pace here. Stoner

had a look, but couldn't quite make anything of it. It's really tricky

and visibility wise, you question yourself, what am I doing this for

because you can't see where you are going. 180 miles there in the

pouring rain. Stefan Bradl had a good start. He's in the pack.

saw Randy De Puniet went out. I don't know how that fits in with

the rules, but it's probably a French interpretation of the rules.

Ivan Silva is out. He was the only guy that went for the harder option

front tyre, and it clearly hasn't worked. OK, note to self, use soft

tyre next time. Pedrosa has to give best. So how

about that. Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa and Rossi, I've been

waiting for a while to say that. Rossi was on the podium here last

year, the only one since he joined the Ducati team. Stoner has the

sights of the number 99 Yamaha right in front of him. He's got to

peer through the haze of water. Rossi, this is looking good. Nice

and comfortable in the warm-up this morning and often it does sort a

motorcycle out if it's not working well for you, it can work well in

the wet. Crutchlow trying to find a way round this team-mate. Best let

things settle down, work out where and who is faster. The Tech 3 team

have clearly changed something. Heading round again. A little tight

there. Have a look at Cal Crutchlow.

Andrea Dovizioso. Super fast. Pedrosa will have the shock of his

life when he sees that Ducati come past him and I think it's only a

matter of time. That's very close. Pedrosa moves out to the outside of

the circuit. Rossi looking extremely comfortable. Whatever it

is that ails Ducati, he's levelled off with the luberyration of the

water. Comfortable mid-corner. drive off the corners, good into

the corners. He's looking every which way. It's no different really

to the dry. There's only properly one line around a track, wet or dry,

and it's the optimum line. Often if you go off it, sometimes there's

more grip, but it depends what part of the circuit it is. Looks like a

big step. He might have it if he can carry it in. Pedrosa has to

give his best. Can Rossi make it stick? Rossi looks as though he can

put that thing exactly where he wants. How about this? Valentino

Rossi, a potential podium win. The crowd would go mad, I'm Cher they

are disappointed about Randy De Puniet, but this will keep them

cheered up. One thing at a time. Nice pass from

Rossi. A really difficult part of the circuit. We have seen

everything slippy. We'll get a good look at that path. That's where

there have been so many crashes. At the front, Lorenzo, Stoner.

Lorenzo's put the fastest lap of the race. Look at the gap, 1.1

seconds and looks like it's going out. Casey Stoner has a clear track

but he's not able to do anything. We are riding with Cal Crutchlow

and in front of him, Youri Djorkaeff's bike looks like a block

in his drain, he just cannot shift it. Toff Dovizioso trying to get

past. He's able to let it run out wide to do the block into the tight.

He's made that a bit steep and sharp. Can Cal go with him? Looks

like Dani Pedrosa is lacking the grip. Casey Stoner, you can see in

if front of that. Valentino Rossi. Two-and-a-half seconds. It's gone

out, yes, 2.6 seconds. He took a second out of everyone there. Did a

483, Jorge Lorenzo, the man in the middle of the screen right now,

compared to 497 for Casey Stoner. Casey Stoner is very good in the

wet as a rule so it will be interesting to see if he can come

to terms with this. A very long old race here and a busy, busy lap.

weird thing is that the track seems to get slippier as it goes on.

That's where the tyres wear out. You would think a wet tyre wouldn't

wear, but they are such soft compounds that they do. The sharp

edges go away. The grip diminishes like it would do with a slick tyre

but it's never quite as easy to find out the point where it's gone

in the wet. It's gone, and that's the end of it, particularly if it's

a front ender. A lot of body panels and stuff slithered around as well.

Good start. Good one from Andrea Dovizioso. Look at that! Look at

the middle there. Look at both of them. Lit up, spun up and left. Ben

Spies had another nightmare. That was the same part of the track that

Ben Spies had the big moment on. He was sixth, Randy De Puniet was 12th,

so they are both on the right hand side. Maybe there was something on

the track. It doesn't have any bikes over it generally also.

Thafrpblgts's true. Two riders getting caught out there -- that's

true. That gap between Lorenzo and Stoner is opening out. Lorenzo

slaughtering him there with a 472, plays a 482, another second

Stoner's taken out. And Rossi has got Stoner in his sights.

wouldn't have been betting on that, would you? There will be millions

of fans around the world watching this. Valentino Rossi and Ben Spies.

Must have had another incident. He's battling it all the way back.

That looked like an excursion recovery. Let's have a look what

happened. He has got as much grip as a dog on lino, it's just not

happening. I spoke to him a lot this weekend and he just can't work

it out. Just seems to be that his luck isn't running. Come race day,

everything seems to go horribly wrong after good training. There is

Randy De Puniet. He's about to be lapped on his spare bike. He's also

about to be disqualified I think. He'll probably just stay out there

for the fans. There will be a French exemption, don't worry.

Maybe they'll work a rule out. But I'm sure if you start on one bike

you can't just jump on another one. He's lefting them through and will

have a run round to keep the French fans happy. Join in with them,

sunshine! Yes, a belting qualifier from him. Crash course in

qualifying but nevertheless, you fancies the chances of some of the

CRT boys? Yes, horsepower is great. The most important thing in these

conditions is, your electronics, it's just having it so the machine,

when you try and tap the power and it's not too fierce, you are trying

to feed it in. Valentino Rossi on the brakes into turn one there,

really very, very strong, very confident with the front end of

that bike which is generally not in the drier. Lorenzo's taken yet

another second out of Stoner. Stoner is a demon in the wet and

obviously Lorenzo is too. But Jorge Lorenzo is almost five seconds

ahead of Casey Stoner. Casey Stoner was fastest in every session right

up to qualifying. Which is worrying, that much faster, a second a lap

faster from Jorge Lorenzo, that tends to sound alarm bells to me.

You think he's overdoing it? doesn't sound right to take out

that time. He's got the confidence and the grip. If Valentino Rossi

gets into second place, passes Casey Stoner, I can see the Italian

Grand Prixs being hose down, there'll be water on the track. I

reckon they'll put sprinklers up in Italy. That's not 0.6 of a second

any more. Valentino Rossi's got his tail up. This is exciting to watch.

It will be great for his team. Maximum, maximum encouragement.

Yes. These two running at a good pace. The pace of Jorge Lorenzo, I

can't get over that, a four second advantage he has. We were talking

before the race about Dani Pedrosa who has since mastered the wet

absolutely chucking away a monstrous lead in Germany. He

looked confident but was going too hard. Yes, I'm sure it's a setting,

something's not working for him, he's clearly very fast in the wet

but was reasonably fast in the warm-up this morning. I don't know

what's happened, but it just isn't working for him. Some times the

fact that he's the lightest guy out there isn't working for him, he's

not transferring the weight and not getting the grip. Look at Rossi on

the brakes. So much grip. Takes out two or three bike lengths but where

will he find the place to do it? He's already taken him out once in

the wet if you remember. Indeed, yes, race two last year. The funny

thing is is that it's the front end of the Ducati that upsets everybody

and everybody finds it difficult to deal with it. It's the front end he

looked so confident with in the wet. Really pushing. You and I both know

it makes such a difference, the small amount of load that you can

offer, the frame, the suspension and all the bike in wet conditions,

it's ten, 20% less than you get in dry conditions. Extraordinarily,

the lap times are about 10% off dry times.

Told you there would be an exemption, no disqualification for

Randy De Puniet because he hadn't finished the first lap. Impressive

stuff. Dump one on the pit wall and jump over and get another one.

That's good for the French fans. Randy De Puniet is in front of Ivan

Silva already. He had that major moment. Off he charges, a lap down

to see who he can catch. The 2007 winner, he is back in front of

Colin Edwards. As he said, coming back just jumping on a bike in the

wet doesn't matter. If he qualified behind Randy De Puniet on the CRT

machine, he qualified they are teenth. That crash didn't help but

he's looking comfortable -- 13th Crutchlow getting his head down.

Stoner and Rossi on the left, then you have Crutchlow in the green

trying to find a way past his team- mate. This is basically the battle

for second. Absolutely. We are talking one of the guys has runner-

up spot, assuming they all stay on. Once tired degradation starts to

happen and the sharp edges run off the Bridgestone tyres. It's just

not quite the same amount of grip. It sheers off the blocks of rubber.

Even if the rain stays constant, doesn't get worse, they are still

chasing the ball downhill. Even this track, not known for its grip

wet or dry, you can just see the angles the guys can get with the

tyres. Because the fact that the tyre is made of such soft compounds,

and it wriggles around, all the big blocks move around. Ben Spies is

coming in. Can't change bikes because if he does, he has got to

change to a different tyre. Surely he's got a misted up visor. Club

racing. The horrible thing for him is that he knows full well that

he's under scrutiny from his bosses, he's on the factory bike now, he

was told he had to do more than last year. Cal Crutchlow, that you

are racing with now, he'd be in with a shout. Ben Spies 11th in the

Championship, it's just not 13 and 14, over the height lines,

it is very, very slippery there. You won't believe this, but they

are changing his his visor. You shouldn't have that happen. It

is bad preparation. Something is not right. If that's the case, it

is awful. How do you tell your bosses that you are riding a �1

million motorcycle and there is 27 people in the crew and you couldn't

see where you are going? Your best argument was that a wasp got in it.

You don't get many wasps around on days like this. What is going on

with Dani Pedrosa? That is Nicky Hayden. What is going on with Dani

Pedrosa? He is a lot better in the wet. He is handy in the wet, but he

is going south. He is being put under pressure by a Honda is not

useful. They are running on identical tyres.

They have gone for the softer option of tyres. It is who can keep

this bike, their bikes upright. Who can get away with the lesser amount

of tyre ware. It seems as if Dani Pedrosa has some sort of issues, he

doesn't normally drop back like this in the rain. Is. Fast. Fast.

Fast. Left Left-hander, Crutchlow is close to those boys.

Jorge Lorenzo has read his pit board that tells him he has the

plus four lead. There it is, plus four coming out as we ride with him

now. He can afford to back the pace down. There is 20 laps to go. You

see the big knee pads he has on, double knee pads, to help push the

back up in case it starts sliding. You don't get the same lean angles.

Jorge Lorenzo could manage the pace. There is Hector Barbera taking a

different line to to everybody else on his Ducati.

There is probably more grip out there. So... Crutchlow has done it.

We will come back to that. It must have been at the chicane,

Charlie? While we saw Hector Barbera's excursion, we will

revisit this. Andrea Dovizioso had his first win

last year. Down into the Dunlop chicane. A

massive move. He was carrying the speed. He got the speed going into

the left and jammed it down the inside. Not a a friendly move, but

there you go, it is not a friendly sport! It is motorcycle racing in

awful conditions! That was as tough as goat's meat!

Not a great deal of love lost, but it is always hardly to be friends

with your team-mate. I know you try!

Valentino Rossi is getting chased by Casey Stoner. Not a whole bunch

in it, but they are kissing - those two Yamaha boys. The recovering

line. Stoner seems to be respond to go the challenge -- responding to

the challenge. Stoner has the fastest lap that time. So just,

just, just chipping away. He has brought that gap down a bit.

Jorge Lorenzo is going to have to back the pace down. It is nothing

like Formula One, there is no radio. What's to come around and watch his

pit board. It is very difficult. Sometimes you might slow down a bit

too much. He has a comfortable lead. He will probably see that gap has

come down a bit. Alvaro Bautista riding the bike

which was destined for someone else. Alvaro Bautista is still getting

his head around this Honda. Best of the CRTs, is Danilo

Petrucci. In front of of Abraham. It sure knocks the corner of poor

handling if you have got grip. There won't be any chatter out

today. James Ellison has some good he line it up on the way out? Did

that compromise Rossi? That was a sniff for Cal Crutchlow. Cal

Crutchlow looks like he has a bunch of attitude there.

Yes, 17 laps remaining. Everyone squirming and wriggling around.

Look, he is trying it. Just awkward places to try and get the move.

Look Steve, look! Rossi is good on the brakes. It

seems that he has not got the corner speed that Crutchlow has got.

There is nothing with the traction on that Ducati. Talking about the

number 46, the doctor is back in the surgery, I think, isn't he?

is and patient number 35 is behind him hoping for consultation, we

shall see what Cal Crutchlow can do, but he looks to have momentum.

There will be a big party in France this evening if Cal Crutchlow can

lob that on the podium. Rossi, 46.

The gap, Charlie, has come down again. I am talking Stoner to Jorge

Lorenzo. Abraham is in. He hasn't scored a point all season. What is

going on here? Karel Abraham has retired. Well, we have talked about

him getting a podium this year. I don't want to speak too early, but

he is in for a chance with one this weekend.

A wet weekend, in France could be good for Cal Crutchlow. I think he

will struggle up into the Dunlop Corner. Not a great deal in it. You

will see they will be back down. Rossi is very strong into this

corner. Again, you can see that Crutchlow didn't make up a lot of

time. Crush low seems to be able to carry the corner speed. No, no, no.

Can he make it stick? Cal Crutchlow slip it is down the inside. Thank

you, doctor. He carried so much more corner

speed. Look, look, don't tear it. Take the

whole piece, Yamaha. It ain't over yet, but...

That was very big. In fairness, from Cal's point of

view, it would have been handy if Andrea Dovizioso hadn't got through.

What has gone on? Surely, it can't be another - front forks. As soon

as I put the brakes on, it just runs out wide.

Had a bit of rain though. Not a good place to have handling issues.

Look at this. Just extraordinary that last part. He was later on the

brakes than Valentino Rossi. He carried so much corner speed. He

got the slide coming out and didn't lose too much time. Valentino Rossi

ruffled feathers there. It was a good bit of opportunism

from Andrea Dovizioso. Hang on, that's not in the script. He is

back past Cal Crutchlow. It ain't over yet with those three and the

shuffle continues. Andrea Dovizioso is the bigger

threat. Can Crutchlow do it again? We know which corner he is fast on

and it is coming up shortly. I would like to see where Andrea

Dovizioso got past him. There is his father there with the pit board,

"Come on son.". What they must not do, Steve and we have seen this -

no, not close enough. He is going to have another go in a moment.

he is he is rehearsing it. What these two must not do is take each

other out. As a team owner and I have been

there with your two team riders, at your home Grand Prix, trying to

knock each other off well, not trying to, but it is a possibility!

Casey Stoner meantime fastest lap 45.1.

People are still chipping away as they get more comfortable with the

grip. There will be standing water. 45.1 is hitting it real.

The tyres will be past their best. The gap is 2.7 seconds. It does

seem as it Jorge Lorenzo is able to hold the pace. What is it looking

like out the window? It stopped raining.

You said that before and it hadn't. No, but it is true.

There is a drying line on top of the dustbin outside!

As soon as we can where Andrea Dovizioso got past Cal Crutchlow.

These guys are doing the thick end of 290 k.

The clock goes and stops 2.7 again. He has got it nailed as far as

keeping that gap nice and constant. They are chipping away. Bear in

mind, of course, this is the race for the championship lead. Stoner

holds that by one point over Jorge Lorenzo at the moment. If they

finish this way on the track. Nicky Hayden had a terrible start.

But he has fought his way up and he is in eighth position behind Stefan

Bradl. And there is Danilo Petrucci's team, bike number nine.

He is Haifg a stonking ride -- having a stonking ride. This bike

is different. Yes, it is very different. It has

the trellis type Ducati frame. It is not real powerful, but in these

conditions, you don't need it real powerful. Rossi got the leg down

and so has Crutchlow. Honda under brakes and does the job in the

ninth and tenth chicane. Valentino Rossi having a resurgence

here. Has he got anything left in that Ducati? Would he like to be on

the podium? Would he ever? It would be a nice fitting, opening start

for his season, because it hasn't been good up until now. Poor Old

Valentino Rossi, he had a tenth, nineth, twelfth. Let's just watch

this passing. It was all about the drive really

off the bottom corner and out of turn eight. It would be useful for

Rossi as well, for his psyche to get a win on the track if you like.

When he got on to the podium last year, Pedrosa was out of it. So

Rossi is holding his own on track at minute.

Yes, he is. I can tell you that Jorge Lorenzo

will be, "Oh no, not 13 laps to go." He has been holding the lead,

tiptoeing around, he is not tiptoeing, but he is trying to keep

the bike as upright and trying to squeeze the powers as as gently as

you can. You can't make any fierce adjustments. You have to be smooth

and it is just physically not demanding, but mentally it does

don't son, I'm back in. The two Italians are going hammer and tongs.

This is where Rossi passed Crutchlow. He got the run out.

bit more rain on the camera as well. It might be drizzling yet again.

This is a fantastic scrap. They all deserve to be on the podium.

final place of the podium as it is, one of those three here.

It's great to have the bikes in the lead group, of course, your home

Grand Prix. This is a critical time for Cal Crutchlow, Steve, because

being with Rossi in-between him and his team-mate with only a dozen

laps to go, this could actually be the time when a gap opens up if Cal

is not very judicious. Thought he was going to have one of

his dives up the inside of Valentino. Michael Schumacher

enjoying this. He's ridden in the German Championship. His retirement

years went back to motor cycling. His wife said he kept falling off

said, I'm going to sort you out once and for all. He's just put in

his fastest lap. That is on good time with 12 lap res maining. He's

back to the maximum gap he's had throughout the race -- remaining.

Andrea Dovizioso strong in the wet. Managing to hold the other two off

at the moment. As you can see, there's their last lap, there's

nothing in it really. Crutchlow is the better of the three. It's sea

sawing. So easy just to make a little mistake. Being the back of

the bunch is the hardest place because you get unsighted at times,

you are getting more spray than anyone else. There is no spray on

the front of him, there hasn't been, only for the first lap. Jorge

Lorenzo, another fastest lap again, first of the 144s. Gives him a 3.

97 second advantage over his opponent. Rossi is looking hard to

see if he can find a way back. Strong there but not strong enough.

Crutchlow trying to go with him as well.

I can't deskraib to anyone what it's like riding this sort of power

in these types of conditions -- describe. It's just so easy to make

a mistake. And it is a testimony and perhaps

no surprise that these guys are the best in the world, they have fewer

crashes here than anywhere else. Juniors sometimes succumb to

enthusiasm and chuck it away. These guys are at the top of their game

and are being as careful as they possibly can and it's paying

dividends. The only thing you could say with these, they have the most

sophisticated electronics that does assist. I'm not going to say it

makes it easy, you could still fall off, but the traction control

system will be working out where the power and grip is, where to put

it down, it knows where it is on the circuit. Going back to that,

Nicky Hayden running in eighth. They said the team put out a press

release to say the bike lost where it was on the circuit. There's

wires go under the circuit for segment times and the bike or

electronics got confused and when it was in the sharp corner it

thought it was on the straight, so it was delivering the wrong power

and got confused, proving that things can go wrong with the

sophisticated motorcycles. Ten laps left. 180mph they are

doing in these conditions. Hard to get your head around that.

A fast sweeping right hander. Rossi seems happiest there. Oh, no,

Cal Crutchlow. I said, was just about to say he was closing in

really taking yards out of them under brakes there. That's where he

crashed this morning in the warm-up. It's going to be difficult to stand

the bike up. Still running but whether or not - look at that,

front folgded - he was looking for the outsideline again -- folded.

Just kept the front brake on a little too much. He's got the bike

going. That's the only good thing about it. The bike kept going. The

system that shuts down in practise keeps it running for longer in the

race so they can get the bike stood up. Done well to get it stood up.

Rossi lunges through as well now. Time to get a wriggle on. Bike

sliding back a little bit. Lucky omen not going very well. Andrea

Dovizioso going to fight back. Cal Crutchlow, we will measure the gap

when he comes back across the line, but that is an absolute nightmare.

They are using the white lines here, Steve? Yes, they seem to have as

much grip as the dark part of the track which shows how slippy the

dark part is. It's unusual to be able to use them. It's when they

have the bikes Stade up. The white paint has some sandy material in it

offering a reasonable amount of grip. Lorenzo goes over the line.

We wait for Stoner to see what that gap is. It's 5.9 seconds. Nine laps

to go. Jorge Lorenzo could lead the heroinship now if it stays like

this. You could speculate that Stoner has decided to give best to

Lorenzo. Five seconds behind and three seconds ahead of these boys.

Valentino Rossi. Maybe this is what he needed. This will put the

sparkle back into him. Casey Stoner is retiring at the end of the year

because he's lost the enthusiasm. You don't normally lose it when you

are winning. Valentino Rossi says he will stay. Cal Crutchlow eighth.

Good recovery for him. Still plenty of points. The bike's wriggling

around everywhere. He looks furious and he will be, he'll be cross with

himself, but you have got to try. He was trying very hard. So is this

man, riding a four cylinder Yamaha. 250 brake horsepower. That will be

toned down now. You can run the steel discs in the wet. Can't run

carbon in the wet because they The sky looks like it's clearing a

tiny bit. Maybe that's just the rain on the camera. Wishful

thinking. Casey Stoner is going to have to

wouldn't. Talking to Mick Doohan earlier, this would be one race

he'll be watching and will be pleased that he's almost certainly

out having a barbie at the moment on his back porch in Queensland.

Casey will be doing a lot of that next year.

A lot of speculation that Casey Stoner is going to go on race V8s

in Australia. I can see that, he's already done a test there, he loves

it, a couple of million bucks a year and live in Australia and have

some fun. Get home on a Sunday night. Yes. Another Australian did

that and he was a dab hand at it. Wayne Gardner still out racing on

old bikes, he'll be at Goodwood with Max Norton. Still enjoys that.

Anyway, look at this. Rossi is closing this down. Let's keep an

eye on this, sunshine. Last time around, Valentino Rossi's lap time

was 14 4tnt 2, compared to 144.4, two tenths of a second, that was

Stoner's time. Valentino Rossi, would it be possible? Could we

imagine it? Can we dream of him passing the current world champion,

Casey Stoner there, number one? Looking good. It is. The doctor was

definitely in the house here today. Stoner was OK in the warm-up this

morning but wasn't tearing up trees by his normal standard?: I would

say he's decided he's giving best. Valentino Rossi puts in the fastest

lap of the race. Valentino Rossi, the nine times world champion, has

just done a 144.614. He will be getting a pit board, Casey Stoner,

and that will give him the hurry up now. Seven laps remaining. How

about this? He doesn't want his Championship interfered with by

Rossi. Dovizioso just has a slide across the top of the hill there.

Nice save. It's given Valentino Rossi a bit of breathing space.

Looking back down, I'll check out the lap times of whether or not Cal

Crutchlow's Yamaha is injured. Yes, I think it is. 148 last time around.

I think he's got some problems, handle bars are twisted, levers,

brake, all thing kind of things will have been twisted in the

incident. The poor old Tech 3 Yamaha is injured.

Ben Spies meantime, I don't know what his problem is, it's more than

just being able to see properly, he's back in 17th and circulating

in the high 46s, so not comfortable. He pitted earlier with a fogged

visor. Valentino Rossi now two seconds back. Yes, really chipping

away. He's found half a second in this

lap. That will be a big old carrot, a nice orange carrot that we are

looking at, Casey Stoner, he donate add helmet to him at this meeting,

a retirement present as such but he's going to have a shock in a

minute because I think Casey Stoner's pit board may say plus two.

Whether it says that on Rossi rox, they probably haven't got that name

out this year -- Valentino Rossi. Casey Stoner will feel a weight off

his shoulders having made the announcement. Do you think it's

likely to affect his head? I don't think he does. He gets the helmet

on, gets angry and twists the throttle. He's now learnt how to

win Championships, Casey Stoner, and there's days when you have to

give best and be third or second, you don't need to be in the dirt.

Yes, broken collar bone or hand or foot and a 0 point. He still only

one ten of the 18 races. A long, long Championship. It's all going

on there. These CRT are having a great run.

Danilo Petrucci and Mattia Pasini. Pasini closing Petrucci down.

At the back of the pack, Ellison is behind him. The Cumbrian lad there

looking around the side of the screen, probably messed it up.

Ellison there 147.1. Pasini a 48.1, so Ellison took a second a lap out

of the man in front of him. 22 is not in this. He's a lap down. Paul

Bird gave me a lift in and he's here watching what is going on. It

will be nice for him to get some points. Yes, I think it would be

nice for James too. The spwos chewing about quite a bit so he

wouldn't mind a bit of the heat coming off him -- the boss. For

goodness sake, don't get in the way of Casey Stoner, he will go berserk.

He understands his land rights very well, Casey Stoner, he knows which

bit of the track is his, whether the other rider agrees or not.

the hill we go. A bad place to catch a slower rider through this

long, long, long right hander. Can he get around the outside now?

Maybe the inside. Which way? Gets his falt down and that will be

a wake-up call. This might help Casey Stoner. He might be pleased

of the CRT because it will get in the way of Valentino Rossi -- his

foot down. Hernandez realised the others are following. Looks over

his shoulder. Dovizioso sort of still in touch with these guys but

only just. Rossi right there only a few bike lengths back. Didn't

expect to see that. It's the first of the wet races. We have had wet

weekends and wet practises and everything else. Rossi looked good

in the warm-up this morning but is looking better in this race. Five

laps to go. Forgetting the frustration for us with Cal

Crutchlow, heading off into the Chicane. Andrea Dovizioso is still

very much in touch with these guys. There he is there. Cal Crutchlow

still going round, still in eighth place. I think he might lose that

soon because he's still lapping 148 and they are doing 147s behind him.

He has an issue with the bike, it's bent and buckedled, brake geefr,

foot lever, clutch, something like that -- brake lever. He's getting

closer here. Two tenths as they crossed the line last time around.

Four laps left, plenty of time for the doctor to have a lunge at the

seen these two battling. Yes, it is. This would be an ignaminious moment

for Casey Stoner who says he can't understand what Valentino Rossi was

doing. Very close in a minute. he hasn't seen the exhaust pipe for

a long time. Casey will be thinking, that sounds like a Ducati behaind

me, not heard one of those behind me and they do grumble and growl.

Don't they. He will be grumbling and growling if this happens.

Stoner, as I said, he'll be, if he can keep it on the podium somewhere,

it's points for him. If he's got grip issues... More back markers

an under threat for Casey Stoner, but these are such fluky conditions,

I am survived that we have as many runners as we still have. 20 guys

still on track. Michele Pirro is about to get a a wake-up when these

guys come past him. Ah, no.

That is not the result they are looking for. Kal went off and Rossi

is all over Stoner like a rash. Carrying the speed.

This is where I think tyre degradation is coming into play.

Will he have a a stab? Yes, Stoner cuts back the other way, but that

won't work. Stoner has gone back. He backed

down. These tyres, the Bridgestone tyres are doing a great job, but

they are starting to lose the sharp edges. It is finding out how fast

you can go with the grip that you have got. And often you don't know

how much grip you have got until you're chewing the gravel.

Stoner knows he is going to have to fight for the second place.

Valentino, don't go brassing him off. Andrea Dovizioso has got back

on and he is in front of Crutchlow. Crutchlow has got some issues. His

lap times are slow. Two-and-a-half laps left. Here is the double

double shuffle. You can see Stoner thinking, "I'm

going to square this one off. Switch back and get the bike stood

up." Casey Stoner does know who his back is on with, he knows who he is

fighting with, he is fighting with the nine times world champion who

is just as smart as he is. Casey Stoner hasn't forgotten how

to race. Listen to the crowd out there.

Rossi is going to have another go. Yes. Anyone that gets on a

motorbike - Valentino Rossi's crowd is with him here in France. He is

going, he is going, no, he isn't. The drive out of the corner from

the due Ducati looked fantastic. This will be some hell of a last

lap. Who is going to give? Who is going to stay up? I'm the reigning

champion this year, but Valentino Rossi is the master.

Andrea Dovizioso is in seventh. Stoner having to work harder than

he has had done all year. Andrea Dovizioso has crashed out

again. It is not often you have two crashes in a race. Rossi is trying

everything. He is throwing everything at it. A relatively easy

cut back there for Stoner. Stoner has grip issues. Rossi will get the

drive and he has nowhere to go. Stoner looked like he is changing

the engine mapping at that point. The last lap.

Who is going to be second out of these two or are they both going to

end up in the gravel? Rossi is going.

Will he come back? Now it looks as though Rossi might have got it

right this time. Stoner is stuck on the wrong side of him. Can he get

it down the inside? The crowd has gone ballistic.

Oh, he has let it go. I think Rossi has more grip. Stoner has all sorts

of issues. I saw him trying to change the engine mapping. He is

losing traction in and out of the corner or grip into the corners on

the brakes. Valentino Rossi has the better tyres. Stoner can expect him

to come, but it is a difficult place.

The Ducati camp is going to go wild. This man is ten seconds out in

front, Jorge Lorenzo just cruising now. He surely can. Casey Stoner

the bottom step of the podium. His uninterrupted podium run will

continue. But Valentino Rossi... The Ducati crowd and management and

everybody I can think of, who have spent millions and millions of

pounds, get it wet. Valentino Rossi announced at the press conference

when Stoner resigned, that he was free.

Jorge Lorenzo wins hands and heels in la in Le Mans. Valentino Rossi,

yes, you heard right, second. Casey Stoner third. Last step on

the podium. That was a fantastic bit of entertainment, boys. Thanks

for that. Remember Dani Pedrosa, the pole sitter, he kept his head

down and he is fourth. A shake of hands for the two greats, Stoner

and Rossi, they had a ball. Look at this battle. What is going to

become of our racers? There is Andrea Dovizioso, battered

and bruised, but he has got it to the finish so Andrea Dovizioso is

going to finish seventh. Cal Crutchlow eighth. Stefan Bradl

is ninety. I have a feeling Andrea Dovizioso bashed his way through.

We could have another Rossi and Lorenzo garage, couldn't we? Bike

number 77, the boy from Cumbria gets across the line in the points,

well in the points, that's good stuff.

So that's a good job from James Ellison.

He never looked in doubt, did he? I know you were worried when he went

off at the start. Extraordinary really. Whatever they have done

with the bike or the settings, his smooth style, we have talked about

the 250 nice style. He is silk at work on a motorcycle and he rode

that bike nicely. He was lapping a second faster and he opened the gap

up when he did, but there he is, number 46, it is a pleasure for me

to say this, on the podium. I didn't expect it and I was

concerned about the driving conditions.

Here is the one that really stuck. He rehearsed it the lap before.

Look, watch his switch to the inside. He said, "You are not

coming down the inside here." Good stuff. He will be over the moon

about this as will the crew because they all needed a boost and they've

got it. There will abdroch blood pressure

in -- be a drop of blood pressure in Ducati. It is a big afternoon in

so many ways and it is great to see, the great Valentino Rossi back up

there on the podium. We know confidence is a big thing

and sometimes I bet you had it, a wet race can bring your confidence

back a bit. You start to believe in yourself again. We go to Catalonia

in a few weeks time, surely that won't be wet, but this will boost

his confidence. The bike maybe not the best, but it is not as bad as

it seems. Valentino needs to kind of be replugged in, charged up,

whatever it takes. Pedrosa looks crest fallen with

pole position and finishing off the podium, you can understand why.

He didn't like it, he says. He is congratulating the Ducati

team. There are the boys, will they be pleased?

It is great for the sport. It is great for Ducati, the team that

worked so hardment it is great for value teen yo, it is -- Valentino,

it is great for the fans to see him on the podium.

Jorge Lorenzo, there, he is up there. Valentino Rossi has taken a

load of points. It was going to be four points, but it is eight or

nine points. There is the boss of the team. Congratulations between

the two of them. They had a stonking race. These two, what is

going on here? We need to watch and understand closely.

Not just the damage, but it seemed to me as if Crutchlow wasn't happy

with him. That was Andrea Dovizioso's error.

We saw Cal Crutchlow's one. I wonder if something else has gone

Maybe I misread it, but it seemed to me as though... It is horrible.

It really is. Your home Grand Prix just always seems and it turns into

a ball of chalk. Casey Stoner couldn't quite do it

Casey Stoner couldn't quite do it today.

Casey, it was fun for us to watch, but not fun to ride? No, it want

the best day for us today. I don't think our bikes were working on

this track. Myself and Dani had the same problems. I was behind him in

the early stages and he was up out of the seat, and every bike I

followed seemed to drive out of every corner and a lot more easily

than us and in the corner entry. So I think we struggled a bit as Honda

today, we didn't didn't dot best job, I guess, in the wet. I gave it

my all, but the risk was too high and I lost grip completely and had

nothing more. So we tried to hold on to second, but in the end, the

amount we held on to, I was happy with. Valentino Rossi had a higher

pace than us and we were able to hold on to the last lap, but that's

the way it goes. He had a good race in the process.

Boy, oh boy when did we talk about it in that order?

Cal Crutchlow and Hector Barbera that should top nine. Now that is a

problem for Cal Crutchlow because his team-mate has outscored him,

but the thing I want to address on the second page is this - have a

look at our friend James Ellison. He is the leading CRT guy. James

Ellison has come home in 11th and smoked them. Lovely stuff. A great

day for one Brit, but boy, oh boy, they won't be throwing down the

champers. It is the case of soap and WD40.

Hit the Red Button for half an hour of motoGP extra. We are out of time

on BBC Two. We have lots to reflect on. Valentino Rossi back on the

podium. We will show you that. Jorge Lorenzo taking the

championship lead from the shy and retiring, Casey Stoner. So as I

said, Red Button now for half an hour of reaction from the French

Grand Prix. In two weeks time, Jorge Lorenzo takes the