Laguna Seca, USA MotoGP

Hello, welcome to Laguna Seca, round 9 of the MotoGP championship,

just about to get under way. After missing the last race in Germany

and conceding the World Championship lead to Marc Marquez,

Lorenzo is out on the grid but it is a new name on pole position.

Stefan Bradl starts from the the front of the MotoGP grid for the

first time in his career. It looks set to be a cracker of a race here

in the Californian sunshine. Let's get straight up to our commentary

team of Steve Parish and Charlie Cox.

It was an amazing feat. First German to take pole in the modern

era. There they are lined up. interesting front grid. Marc

Marquez has never been to the track before. We were thinking it was

going to take him time to get accustomed to it. And Alvaro

Bautista, not the ones you would have expected. Rossi, watch for him,

he's been on the pace all week, he heads the second row alongside

crush low. Lorenzo getting better, but still injured in sixth place.

Pedrosa, Bradley Smith and fourth row Hayden. Laverty in 20th place.

Steve the big question we have here is how injured is Pedrosa, is it

going to suffer, cause him to suffer across the race distance.

Who will gain Lorenzo, who was fast this morning in warm-up. We don't

know how they are going to suffer. We have 32 torturing laps around

this circuit. It is the warmest day we have had since he got here on

Thursday and it is going to be tough. 32 laps. 46,000 people here

this weekend, down on last year, but we have three races in America.

There is the top of the cork secure, turn 8 and down the hill. You can

never show how step that is going down there. But it is going to be

down there. But it is going to be down there. But it is going to be

where Dani has had one. Crutch Crutch crutch low, only his fifth

here, all sorts of problems, crashed at the start of qualifying.

There is a reason he is further back, but another man to watch.

had a crash in 15 minutes qualifying session and had some

elect some kal problems with another back.

S S Mr questions in the middle. We are ready for a start in the United

States! Cracking from Bradl. Rossi straight

through. Marquez trying to regroup. Pedrosa

trying to get in as well. That was not good for him as we go round.

Lorenzo trying to make some time. from Valentino Rossi, got in with a

real chance today. He knows that. and fasters of the CRTs. We look

there at Lorenzo, trying to make a move, three up over the top of the

hill, a big left-hander here. Lorenzo almost getting past Marquez.

They work their way down the hill for the first time. This is super

fast, this last right-hander catches a lot of people out. Get it

right on the first lap or you could be in all sorts of trouble.

track temperature is up today. They have got round the first lap. There

is only four of the right-handed Lorenzo showing well there, but

Lorenzo, that was a bit costly that Rossi are opening out in the early

stages. Alvaro Bautista had a good move there. Pedrosa has done half

the laps of anybody else here this weekend. He has not been out in

half the sessions, barely went out in the sessions. Trying to keep his

strength up and save himself for the race. It is going to be about

damage limitation for Dani Pedrosa. Pedrosa missed an open goal by not

In the warm-up this morning, Stefan Bradl was the most consistent solid

rider out there. Lorenzo struggling to stop that bank, fuel tanks.

Cal Crutchlow said in the past he's always struggled in the first few

contract, the option renewed and a lot of word about him not riding

for the LCR team next year. He is putting in the perfect performance

to keep Honda happy. He had a contract with an option that was

due to be signed about two weeks ago and it wasn't done so. Rumours

about Cal Crutchlow moving. But stech Bradl is not doing a thing

on them at this point and then they start to turn, climbing the hill.

Marquez had a crash yesterday at six. In the warm-up session. Look

at these times. Marquez, 21.5. Pole position was only a 21.1. That is

how hard these lads are going. Marquez getting the run out of here

up the hill, as he gets on the brakes and he's going a long way

round. How about that, I am sure he's

memorised that from when Rossi past Stonea.

That was so committed. It was basically saying to Rossi, I am

going to make me your problem, I am so on this. I am going to cut

luckily only on the centre of the tyre. Valentino went so deep trying

to defend. He, too, missed the apex and went on the inside of the

That will go at the end of the year as one of the wildest passes of the

year, maybe the wildest. Extraordinary. Right up there with

Marquez. Muscling Lorenzo out of the way in round two.

Marquez fastest lap. strongly, Steve. Still pretty much

in touch and keeping Lorenzo and Pedrosa at bay, who are both right

in front of Cal Crutchlow. This is going to be battle. These laps will

disappear. I know it is physical for these guys but it is going to

seem so fast for Marquez. The guys behind him and it looks

like these two have bolted now. Marquez lap after lap is going to

He's going to find a way to close that gap down. If you think

throughout the weekend, every time, apart from qualifying, when Bradl

nailed it - I don't believe t that is the end of that for the Aspar

team. Not a good day for the Aspar boys.

They have a bit of work to do. The summer break, they have time. The

next race is back here in place in the moment.

Pramac guys keep running out of riders. They haven't got two riders

the kerb and I am sure he was expecting to see parts of the

number 93 RCB Honda coming across Pedrosa is right hand Lorenzo now,

putting him under some pressure. Marquez does lead with 138 points,

two points in front of Pedrosa. These guys are trying to do damage

limitation. But they are not going to get a big points haul back there.

They need to work further. There is Pedrosa. He's fit and strong, he

has a few grazes left, but it is no real damage to his body at the

It's going to be one of those days. It is a tricky track. Easy to get

sucked in. Mechanical.That's rotten luck for Bradley. It is very

unusual. He was in a good position. Eight of 32, I make that 25%, Bradl,

Marquez Rossi, as you can see. Marquez half a second from Bradl.

This battle between Pedrosa on the orange Honda and in front of him

Lorenzo, the blue Yamaha is really hotting up also.

That gap down now to half a second, it is coming down all the time.

Marquez lapping about three tenths faster than Bradl.

Bradl is going to get the front wheel of that number 93, the orange

done a great job there. He went through the field like strawberries

really because he got a rotten start by his own measure and he

for Bradl to hold him at bay. It would be a feat for him to win here,

Bradl. It would.That would be the podium to get. This is second and

third in the championship we are looking at there. Pedrosa, second

in the championship, behind Lorenzo now. This is the battle

realistically for second and third in the championship now. Marc

Marquez would like like Bradl to finish second, help him with the

Marquez, same tyre option, which is the harder of the two option fronts,

softer rear. That is what we are looking at there from the

championship point of view. But Mark mar Marquez isn't done with

yet with the LCR man out in front of him. That would make the gap

over Pedrosa 17 points, not the 12 points you see there. You have to

feel it's when, not if. Pedrosa still making all the right body

language moves there. But not quite getting in place to put in a pass.

That Andretti corner is one. the time looking back behind

Pedrosa, that is Cal Crutchlow closing that gap down just a touch,

just a few yards, few metres each lap. As we say, I think he will be

the stronger of the two as the race pans out. Still 22 laps of this

circuit, just 2.243 miles round, built in 1957. Modified in 1996.

you were saying, Marc Marquez had never been to this circuit. He was

only third class in Hirst first practice session. -- first practice

session. Realistically because his bike was

in the gravel. He Chucked it down the road. Marquez was just mugged

by Bradl who is doing a good job here. Claudio Corti who came in and

went back out, he has rejoined the race, the number 71 machine there.

He's been into the pits and gone there, lapping consistency, that

gap between him and Rossi is Marquez, not really doing anything

silly, he's just weighing the job up. Corti has come back into the

pit, that seems like his race is run. Marc Marquez, watch the

throttle and brake working in Bradl, whatever happens, first,

second or third, first time he has achieved a podium, his second year

to say plus nothing this time around. That was lovely, I enjoyed

He's just taking it gently. Now to this inner position with only one

Bradl. Using every bit of track he can, running on the edge of the

paint work there, knee skimming over the top of the kerb. That is

the corkscrew corner, second gear corner. Where do you think this - I

know you are going to say because he thinks he's lost his ride, but

where do you think the sudden burst of performance has come from from

Bradl. Because he thinks he's lost his ride. I do ask the most obvious

questions! Pole position out of nowhere. Podium. He was on the

front row for the first time last year around, as 93 is coming on.

Something has happened. That is giving the lap back to Valentino.

He knows he can take his time. He's got to concentrate on the guy in

fourth place. Rossi won't be pleased to know he is behind him.

Pedrosa, dropping off Lorenzo and Cal Crutchlow in seventh place.

That is a pair of Yamahas and then Hondas all the way up to Valentino

Rossi. Kal crutch low is probably thinking when are these two going

Valentino Rossi, number 46. Lapping faster. That gap is coming down.

You can see it. Marc Marquez, if he's got anything left, it is

probably now the time to try and squeeze his way past the number six,

Stefan Bradl's machine. It would be a sensation, couldn't

put it too strongly, if Bradl won here. Not at all. Sometimes when

you get a bit of a shock that it is not all sitting as smoothly as you

expected within your contracts, but in fairness to Bradl, he's got

better this season, that front row position he had in Germany was a

good result from him. He's had lots of fourths and fifths. He's never

had a podium and now he is staring down the barrel of a win. Hayden

trying to find a way past his team- mate. Hayden won this race in 2005.

section. Marquez not making up at one metre, not an inch for that

matter. Two tenths is the gap. Marquez really gets into the strike

mode. Like a Cobra on its hind legs!

He does know one place he could Marquez hasn't been here before is

the fact that he has no idea how tough and strenuous this is going

to be. We are just coming up to half race distance now. He will be

thinking it is going to be five laps to go, but it is 16 laps to go.

But it is all about pacing yourself, stamina and everything else. He is

fast into the Rainey Curve there. second away from Valentino Rossi.

This would be a real head scratcher. Alvaro Bautista and Bradl on the

podium. Marquez, I can't see if they stop the erosion that was

going on behind as far as Valentino Rossi closing them down, giving him

Marquez. If he wins here, he will be the first guy ever to win the

race in his rooky year. That is one of the many records he will break

across the course of the year, as we ride with him now with Bradl

ahead of us. What Marquez will be thinking is I would love to get the

full 20 points, but by getting 20 points, that that clearly extends

his margin over Pedrosa, who is running down in fifth position, so

he is going to go away from here if he stays on the machine and it

keeps running all right from these next 14 laps with an added

advantage in this championship. success is extraordinary. If he

wins today, he will be the youngest guy since Freddie Spencer in 1983

to win back-to-back wins. Alvaro Bautista seems to be in attack mote

here. -- attack mode here. He will be wanting to be careful when he

passes him. He's got form, Alvaro Bautista with Valentino Rossi.

He is a very nice kid, Alvaro Bautista. He will be aware of how

embarrassing that would be. It will be like hard to get past the man.

The team are scrutinising him. down the corner before. He's got

the run out of that. He's blocked past, perfect

wheel still off the ground. It is the most extraordinary thing to

watch. You watch him and he looks like he is going to get it stopped,

back wheel up in the air. Most riders let the brakes off, run into

the gravel and have another go at it, but he keeps that front end

squeezed on. It is proper, proper exciting to watch. Let's watch this

grap to Bradl un-- gap to Bradl boards coming out.

Rossi still in third place, but under pressure from Alvaro Bautista.

We are past halfway race distance now. Who's got the strength and who

hasn't. What you can see and Valentino said he had problems with

this, you can see the Honda, number 19, Alvaro Bautista, seems to be

not been well recently, but is getting better. Always comes to

very close behind his boss as such, within the ranks of Yamaha, Lorenzo,

who we know is still injured. It is all about damage limitation for

these two guys, Pedrosa and Lorenzo and their worse nightmare has

happened because Marc Marquez is sitting in a comfortable position

to grab 25 points here today. I thought that that it was going to

be Marquez, the one that was visiting A&E a lot more, I thought

he was going to be the one who was going to be the most inconsistent

so far, apart from the incident he had in Italy when he fell off while

in second position, he has been pretty much faultless this year,

collecting all those points. third in Qatar, a win in Texas,

second in Spain, third in France, crash in Italy, a win in Germany,

and staring down the barels of around this track. It is so busy.

Here is that turn 11. You can see it is so tight, cuts back on itself,

you what else, Colin Edwards in the lead of the CRTs, that will be a

popular result if it finishes up corner there. But again, you have

to be so careful, this is the first of the right handers coming up.

you like. You can see where Alvaro Bautista is there, shows the

progress he's made across the course of this. Now pressuring

gapping Bradl. Bradl to have his first podium as a second place

would be some sensation in any case and Alvaro Bautista, if he can do

anything, to catch Valentino Rossi, that, too, will be a turn up for

the books. Valentino Rossi seems to be responding. He does. I looked at

the last lap time for him, 1.22.44, slower than Alvaro Bautista. Alvaro

Bautista can't find a way round Rossi. What Rossi will be doing, he

will know the Honda rider is behind him and he will be making sure he's

got the bike stood up well from the exit, doesn't matter if he is a bit

slow in the middle. He will know all the places to cover. Alvaro

Bautista's only chance I would say is going to be a run out of turn

ten into 11 on the inside if he can, or into turn one. They are the only

places to be able to pass. We are now entering the fourth Chuck ka of

now entering the fourth Chuck ka of this race. Just to bring to speed,

Laverty is out. Corti is out. Bradley Smith out and Esparpgro out.

That is where we are. That is Pedrosa in in fifth place. Lorenzo

sixth. Cal Crutchlow not managing to make

a dent on Lorenzo. Cal Crutchlow would fully have been

expecting as I was for the two injured guys to be slacking off a

bit now. Seventh position for him, he will be disappoint disappointed.

160mph, thank goodness for the You saw Andrea Dovizioso give Nicky

a wave. They are both still on the islands and Andrea Dovizioso got

the better of T Marquez, race leader, 1.6 seconds

in front of Bradl, four seconds down the road from Rossi.

16 points now he would lead this championship providing everything

goes fine for the next seven laps. Pedrosa, who didn't look like he

was enjoying being here this weekend, because Lorenzo came along,

he he felt he had to, he is having a good run. Pedrosa is the faster

of the two. Lorenzo, Pedrosa helped himself out a bit here, because in

the last lap he was behind Lorenzo, but in front of him now. Trouble

dispense those two. Now bike number six is looking at this road block.

They are doing their best, those guys, but this is a complicated

spot on the track for Bradl to work. Rossi is really riding...

This is going to be tricky. That was Hernandez, just around the

this year, but this is such a short circuit. It is mileage short and

only 1.22 in time. The shortest run wide, he's got to get the bike

stood up, you can't lean over on concerns like that, he is smart

enough to realise, I am going to stand it up. At the moment he's

going, oh-oh, is this going to work. Valentino, he had gone off the

track as well. But the fact of the matter is, he was fortunate the

tyres got dirty but only in the centre part, so that soon gets

cleaned up. It was very laps for Rossi now. He will be

spot to Barbera. Bike number five right behind bike

He's only three tenths in front of Alvaro Bautista, coming under some

big pressure. I expected Marquez after we saw

what we did in the first practice session, expected him to win this

race. I didn't expect expect Bradl. He's had a stonking race here this

weekend. Everything has been perfect for him. He qualified well

this morning. A solid race here today and first podium for him.

Talking of firsts, Rossi, you would think he's had all of them, but if

he makes a podium here, he will be the oldest rider to take three

successive podiums since Phil Reid back in 75. It is not a statistic

he will be drawing attention to, but it shows there is plenty of

podium. I am sure that is vodka. Just

Rossi on to this podium. There is a sea of yellow around the circuit

here, a huge amount of American fans here, they love him in the

States. They are start to go love Marc Marquez, I noticed the amount

of Marquez merchandising that was flying out of the shops this

Bautista? There's not that many opportunities around this circuit

to pass. You need someone to make a mistake, it is unlikely Rossi is

going to make a mistake. He is the most experienced rider out there by

some margin. These are the Ducatis not too badly here.

Edwards is still scrapping away eighth and ninth position. They are

some 20 seconds back on Cal to be on the safe side. Last lap.

Two miles to go. What can Alvaro Bautista try to do.

Can Rossi keep it neat. Stay on the pit board showing he has a couple

of seconds over Rossi, more than that now, three seconds back.

Abraham bike 17, about to be lapped. Will Rossi arrive at him at an tune

corner for Marquez, but we have to see how that Rossi battle goes.

First things first, congratulations to Marc Marquez, he has smoked them

in the United States! Bradl covers himself with glory, a

second place for him. Boy oh boy, that was as close as Valentino

his man who came in second position, his best ever result for Stefan

Bradl. Nicky hay don has done it. The Kentucky kid takes the line on

as four Ducati. I There is bike number 8, Barbera.

Colin Edwards coming home second in this race, in the CRT race.

That will bring him home in 13th position, 12th position. Edwards

over the the line in 12th position. Bradley Smith and Laverty not

finishing. How did you rate that ride from

Bradl? He did a big job. He's never podiumed at all. A lot of people

questioning whether he would have the consistency throughout after he

fade add bit back in Germany. Once he had settled down. The youngest

guy ever to win back-to-back races in the premier class.

Freddie Spencer from 83. Marquez is turning the motor

cycling world on its head. He's going to leave here with a

healthy lead in the championship. Halfway point now, 18 roineds. Next

one August 18th at Indianapolis. points in front, there is only 25

in it for a win. So it is starting to become a serious dollop of gap

he's got over Dani Pedrosa, his team-mate, and then the reigning

champion Lorenzo. Good job.

He did very good riding across the weekend. Saved himself for this and

dug deep. He's now got a nice gap. Three weeks away, 18th August. He's

fearless ride, rude ride, effective ride. Lorenzo shattered by that. It

is hard enough if you are fit and well. We talk about heroics in

sport, but these guys, the pain they go through, putting their neck

on the line as well. They get more than a kick in the shins, don't

they. One of the problems with those shoulder injuries is the

numbness you can get in the hands, and tingling in the fingers, you

can really lose sensation, especially on a busy track like

this. Very much so. Who would have thought this guy, coming into the

championship this year, we all knew he had the speed, we didn't know he

had the consistency. Or how smart he was at picking up circuits, how

quick he learns tracks, how quick he learned to set the bike up. That

goes back to how good his team is. Nevertheless, he has geled so well.

Look at Lorenzo. Pain relieving gel is what he is going to need. You

are a fighter, he is tough as goats meat that bloke. Cal Crutchlow

coming home seventh. He will be disappointed with that. Valentino

Rossi, oldest bloke to do three on the podium since Phil Reid back in

75. When I was at school! Congratulations to Marc Marquez.

Valentino takes the high moral ground. Raced a great race.

Responded excellently to Alvaro Bautista, who put Rossi under

stellar track. It is a roller coaster ride. Let's confirm these

results now. We know all about the expected a tight race and you look

at it, only four seconds covering the top four. An extraordinary

number of people lapped. That is how hot the pace was at the sharp

into sixth position. Three Spanish lead the championship.

podium. But what about that move at the beginning, Marc on you. You

must have thought of yourself on Casey. It I need to tai the

trademark, I need to take some money. Patent it.He was a lot lot

faster. I have to release the brake more, but maybe we crash and any

way it was too fast, but for me, it is an important play, because it

looks like their Yamaha was in trouble compared to Honda. I was

able to stay in front of Alvaro Bautista. I am happy.

Congratulations. We are happy he is happy. He has got a point about the

performance of the Hondas there. We had an all Honda front row there,

and we haven't had that for a couple of years. Good point.They

are really the bike to have around regroup this year. It's been an

awkward start for him. He has a contract with the team but you are

never safe until it is all done and dusted and putting in good results

helps your contract. There are the Bridgestone tyres, softer of the

options. What a red letter day for Bradl. Pole position and almost did

it. A very happy man down here. Your first MotoGP podium, a great

race, did you think you could win it? Well, it was difficult, I could

see that Marc has a good speed, he was behind me all the time, but I

am happy with my first podium. It is a great result for me and for

the team. It was so important because the pressure was high and

all the last weekend we were close to it, we knew we had the speed but

now we jump on the podium and it is so nice. You have sent a message to

the people that need to hear it, congratulations.

To whom it may concern, I got second and I had pole, how about

that. It is very good for that team, LCR,

unioner union union -- uber on Valentino. Had you been watching

videos of him on Casey? Yes, I thought it was impossible, but then

when I tried to pass him, he stayed there and reReissed the released

the breaks, but I am very happy, not for the moment, but for the 25

points because that was very important for me. I expect I would

struggle a bit, but in the end we take 25 points, so I am so happy.

Now come the summer time, try to be ready in Indianapolis. Enjoy your

break now. Brace yourself, he's around. He is

around. We will be reviewing that move and Valentino let the brakes

off, ran to the edge of the track, but he found plenty of dirt and

gravel and it worked out nicely for him. Valentino Rossi will respect

that. That was an absolutely sensational race. Boy, I don't know

what trick he is going to pull next, mr questions. -- Marquez. We will

have to wait four weeks to find out, because it is summer holidays now,

well-earned by all riders, but particularly Marquez, seminal