RE: PH2: MotoGP - The Italian Job, part two

RE: PH2: MotoGP - The Italian Job, part two

Monday 17th September 2012

PH2: MotoGP - The Italian Job, part two

A home race proves to be just what The Doctor ordered



After a bit of confusion when the lights were meant to turn green but instead went yellow after Karel Abraham's Ducati refused to engage first without stalling, followed by problems with Pedrosa's Honda that were either brake- or tyre-related depending on who you were listening to, the Misano MotoGP eventually got under way. Stoner stand-in Jonathan Rea was well entitled to be hyperventilating before the off.

When the lights finally did go out, Pedrosa charged through a clump of riders at the back of the grid, but the big news was the man in second spot – Valentino Rossi! Remember him? Up ahead and already pulling out a big lead, Jorge Lorenzo must have been struggling to contain a smile as his future teammate Rossi held up the field, and then mentally checking his lottery numbers when he crossed the stripe for the first time to see his pit board reading PEDROSA OUT. The Honda man's back wheel had been taken away by a slow-reacting Barbera, denting but not destroying his championship challenge.

Plenty of time to hoist a mofo at the end
Plenty of time to hoist a mofo at the end
With four already out, Brit hero Cal Crutchlow joined the list of early crashers while trying to put teammate Dovizioso back into his box. Rossi’s Ducati must have seemed the width of a house to Bradl. Ten laps to go and the unbelievable looked possible as Rossi actually opened a gap on Bradl, but Bautista was the man on the move, closing down on Bradl. Riding Marco Simoncelli’s Honda at a circuit named after the great man, few would have begrudged Bautista a podium - but how many millions all over the world were willing that Rossi Ducati home?

Lorenzo taking the win was virtually a certainty when it all went west for Pedrosa, but Rossi second and Bautista third (just!) was a fairytale ending for the Italian crowds. And Jonathan Rea getting eighth was pretty special. "I've learnt so much in that race that you just can't get in testing," said the Norn Irelander. "I've got to be pretty happy. I'm nowhere near the bike's limits, but I don't want to upset my confidence too early. These guys are so fast."

Five races to go and a 38-point lead
Five races to go and a 38-point lead
After Gino Rea’s bike spewed oil on the track, the Moto2 race was shortened to a 14-lap sprint. With a new paint job and home support, Ducati’s latest victim – sorry rider - Andrea ‘Manic Joe’ Iannone hit the front with championship leader (and title favourite) Marc Marquez behind until an enormous moment dropped Iannone a few places.

PH2 has a bit of a soft spot for loony Iannone and after building a lead he was caught by Pol Espargaro and Marquez in the last few laps. Time to prove why he has his nickname? No such reaction from Andrea, Marquez took the win and Pol came second after a cracking last lap and big foot wave in the last corner. Redding got seventh and Smith eighth.

The Moto3 race saw a return to form for Romano Fenati, but the real race was between main title contenders Maverick Vinales and Sandro Cortese. A poor start saw Vinales with work to do while Cortese was in the leading group and looking good – certainly better than poor Danny Webb. whose race didn’t even last one corner. Sure enough, as Cortese and Vinales slugged it out at the front, Vinales was busy working his way through the field and by mid-race was sixth and closing in. The man with the best first name in racing got his elbows out on the last few laps, but a bit of a wild move by the Spaniard allowed Cortese to escape, putting Vinales fifth, Salom second and Fenati third. Kent got twelfth. Advantage Cortese…

Author
Discussion

DaveX

Original Poster:

67 posts

185 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
They should have let Pedrosa start from the front and made Lorenzo work harder for the win

Such a shame about Cal, have to say I lost a lot of interest in the race after he and Pedrosa went out...

Never seen Rossi that happy about a 2nd place finish before smile

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
It's certainly going to be interesting to see what happens with Ducati at Aragon. The fact they were relatively fresh from a two day test at Misano prior to the race combined with the lack of free practice sessions for everyone else certainly worked in their favour to a certain extent. If the GP12 performs strongly at Aragon, I'll lose my cynicism.

RX7

258 posts

243 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
DaveX said:
They should have let Pedrosa start from the front and made Lorenzo work harder for the win

Such a shame about Cal, have to say I lost a lot of interest in the race after he and Pedrosa went out...

Never seen Rossi that happy about a 2nd place finish before smile
I know rules are rules, but one brief moment has probably decided the championship, however, one dnf for Lorenzo and one for Pedrosa, both caused by Barbera i think!

Stoner, Pedrosa and Cal out and Rossi gets a 2nd, seems a bit hollow to me, but i guess thats racing, hopefully he will follow it up at the next race smile

Johnny Rea didnt do bad for his first outing either smile

Rawwr

22,722 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Lorenzo's DNF was caused by Bautista at Assen.

RemaL

24,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
i'm realy happy Rossi got a second. but the 5 seconds to George comment from the commentators was funny. I don't think george would have been that close if pedrosa was racing him for the win.

Still a good race, well I enjoyed it

macdeb

8,487 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Good to see the Doctor back at the front. Shame for Pedrosa as none of it was his fault but, rules are rules and he got passed by the safety car. I also think Crutchlow was a victim as he was getting very aggitated on the line with all the messing around for Pedrosa as would anyone and this coupled with the very wide Dovi to pass got the better of him. An eventful race of which I enjoyed, but not a great one.
PS; Good show from Rea, what with going back and forth from Superbike to GP bike and all thumbup

DeltaEvo2

865 posts

191 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Go Doc!
Waiting for next year..it should be interesting wink

smilo996

2,745 posts

169 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
They obviously had 2 more days testing, new parts, other teams not being able to test, Pedrosa at the back, no Stoner, injured Hayden, Cal out. Apart from that 2nd place was good.
They need to just stop trying to make it into an inline 4 with an aluminium beam frame and make it into a proper prototype V4 from Ducati. It started life as a @999 with a V4 engine.
As that it did quite well also when Ducati could get the right tyres for the bike not the other way round.
Hopefully Audi will put enough cash in to cut the previously required link between racing and bikes for the public and build a prototype.

RX7

258 posts

243 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Rawwr said:
Lorenzo's DNF was caused by Bautista at Assen.
Thank you, i stand correct, i always get the two names mixed up!

MrKipling43

5,788 posts

215 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
smilo996 said:
They obviously had 2 more days testing, new parts, other teams not being able to test, Pedrosa at the back, no Stoner, injured Hayden, Cal out. Apart from that 2nd place was good.
They need to just stop trying to make it into an inline 4 with an aluminium beam frame and make it into a proper prototype V4 from Ducati. It started life as a @999 with a V4 engine.
As that it did quite well also when Ducati could get the right tyres for the bike not the other way round.
Hopefully Audi will put enough cash in to cut the previously required link between racing and bikes for the public and build a prototype.
Er... what?

CocoUK

951 posts

181 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Gutted for Pedrosa.
Gutted for Cal.
Pleased for Rossi.
Pleased for Jonny.

Does anybody know why Bradl dropped off towards the end? Tyres? Fuel? Balance? Fatigue?


And well done Jon for the article, they have come on much, much stronger as the season has progressed, keep it up fella!

macdeb

8,487 posts

254 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
CocoUK said:
well done Jon for the article, keep it up fella!
yes Oh yes, more please.

996 sps

6,165 posts

215 months

Tuesday 18th September 2012
quotequote all
Yep great article!