Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi made his return to the top step of the podium at Misano today, defeating teammate Jorge Lorenzo, who finished second ahead of Honda’s Dani Pedrosa.
Points leader Marc Marquez (Honda) crashed and remounted to finish in 15th position.
Marquez has dominated the year, of course, so he still has a massive lead in the championship. For additional details, points and results, visit the official MotoGP site.
Is everyone forgetting this is Rossi’s home track and known to have a slippery racing surface even dry? Wonder who knows what the surface changes are like and where they happena for every condition?
Is that why Marquez won in Catalyuna? Because he knows it better than anyone else because it’s near his home? Or is that he was just better that day? If Rossi knows “what the surface changes are like and where they happena for every condition?” why did he crash on Friday? Why didn’t he win last year at Misano? Evidently Rossi had the better setup that day and he made only a few small mistakes.
Q: “Is everyone forgetting this is Rossi’s home track (?)”
A: yes.
If it wasn’t for Rossi winning, the moment MM crashed, it became a fairly boring race. Either way, it wasn’t boring when I saw the Rossi/Stoner battle in 2008 Laguna. Going for steady 4th place finishes to podiums and now a victory gives me optimism for his battling next year for victories. I’m not sure I agree with the Honda-leaning tracks for the rest of the year. I don’t recall all the final podiums from 2013, but the rider on fire at the later half of last year was Lorenzo. Yamaha may still have a few rides to surprise. And it is great to see the Ducatis coming within respectable times of the “big 4”.
re: “the moment MM crashed”
what is Lap 9…? (Jeopardy response in form of question)
Alex, i’ll take category “Trivia Misano” for $800.
Would have been a bit more exciting if the crash came at lap 20, but then I wouldn’t have saved as much time on the DVR.
actually what’s killing me more is the replay of the last race. while i think it’s very cool/generous of them (Fox) to rerun the previous event, the knock on is i’m now burning through twice as much hard disk space as my set up doesn’t allow me to tweak start times like my old Replay box, and system performance suffers tremendously the more it records (even with a Tbyte).
while I don’t want to sacrifice any MotoGP recordings for Walking Dead season 5…? a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. 🙂 as the family would say, these episodes aren’t going to record themselves…?
Valentino is a great champion! That said, I’m glad he won this at home, because I don’t think he has many wins left in him. Marquez is still learning how far he can push, crashing after riding the inside of the rumble strip; he won’t make that mistake again. I also like the fact the Dukes’ are showing signs of pace; it should be interesting next year with addition of Suzuki and Aprilia to the mix!
I watched video and saw MM ride over the top of the rumble strip, not the inside like he said. I re-wound and watched it several times. He never actually rode inside the crown IMO. IMO he wrongly deflected blame from him simply overcooking the L turn, and preferred to blame the rumble strip.
Sorry, R turn.
There is Rossi for years to come…
GO Rossi!!!
Actually teared up a little when I heard all those fans singing while they played the Italian national anthem.
(in other racing news)
since coverage of domestic’s pretty thin as of late, here’s some pics/musing from the season finale of AMA. and with the recent announcement of Rainey and Co’s takeover it really IS a finale in more ways than one. the old regime of DMG has been swept away…
http://tinyurl.com/mce5pko
enjoy.
I am betting that Marco is smiling!
Excellent.
The thing that makes it so funny for me is that it is a derogatory but at the same time the biggest complement one can receive. Rossi, the debatable goat, is jealous enough of YOUR riding, to exclaim it about you.
I think TF was referring to Marco Simoncelli, not Marc Marquez.
Yes…….and they are probably both smiling.
Awesome. I’ve read about him honoring Ago, but maybe he really is the g.o.a.t. I didn’t follow his early career, but at least lately he seems like a humorous good sport. Such as his comment about “the bastard”. Funny.
Nice to see Rossi on top again. I bet Italy is hopping tonight.
I am only a very casual follower of MotoGP but have been impressed with Rossi’s lack of bitching throughout his fall from the top starting with Ducati. Well from what little I see of his public persona. I’ve never seen anything about him bitching about teams, teammates, anything. Anyone who has achieved such a high level of success must by hyper competitive which doesn’t usually mix with good sportsmanship. So hats off to Rossi for at least keeping a public face of a sportsman who goes about his business win or lose on an even keel
Great observation. Rossi has certainly mellowed with age. Back in the Biaggi era he was quite a bit more temperamental and a mouthy hot head. He knew how to play the mental game better than anyone, and did so with great skill. I think he knows it doesn’t work with these guys and would just make himself look foolish. So as far as the sportsmanship he’s certainly changed – as far as bitching about anything I think you’re right; he’s just never been that kind of racer. Nice to see.
Interesting side note: A Ducati ran with a Repsol Honda, lap for lap, including the late part of the race when Pedro’s was faster than both the Yamaha’s. Another (Ianonne’s) finished close behind, and ahead of every other Honda and Yamaha in the race.
Good to see Rossi on the top step again, plus he’s pulled within 1 point of Pedro for second, who has not been running great as of late, even though he’s been on the podium like10 times this season.
Bet Lorenzo is thinking what the heck is going on….in the past when he gets an open track in front of him, he just cruises to the win
+1 VR it’s displaying a great consistency as you say, and it’s nice to show everybody what The Doctor (now that I think, were the Doctor stuff come from?) can do; on a second note, nobody did great news of MM crashing, guess aliens can also crash.
From Wikipedia article on VR:
“Since dominating the 500 cc category later known as MotoGP, “The Doctor” has become the nickname of choice for Rossi. Two theories prevail as to why Rossi uses “The Doctor.” One is that Rossi adopted the nickname upon having earned a degree, which in Italy entitles one to use the title “Doctor.” Another, as spoken by Graziano himself, “The Doctor because, I don’t think there is a particular reason, but it’s beautiful, and is important, The Doctor. And in Italy, The Doctor is a name you give to someone for respect, it’s very important, The Doctor… important.”[39] Rossi often jokes, however, that the name arrived because in Italy, Rossi is a common surname for Doctors.”
That was beautiful. Actually had a tear in my eye when Rossi crossed the line. What a special day in a special place for Rossi. Totally awesome.
Sure was nice to see Rossi ride that young upstart into the ground. Not sure he could have beat him if Marquez hadn’t crashed … but of course, he DID crash, trying to match Rossi’s pace.
My sense in watching the race is that Yamaha has gained a few much-needed engine horsepowers.
re: “Yamaha has gained a few much-needed engine horsepowers”
not so much. Misano’s a tight track and one of the last few remaining “Yamaha circuits”… if there even IS such a thing anymore…?
Gary says Y gained “a few” HP. You reply “not so much.” “Not so much” is exactly synonymous with “a few,” yet you were compelled to correct him. Your clarification is even worse:
First you say Yamaha won because Misano is a “tight track and one of the last few remaining ‘Yamaha circuits’,” then you say such track might not exist.
I cordially invite you to not type when you lack any concrete statement or affirmatively know nothing, such as above.
Your quips and use of proper nouns known mostly to yourself is pathetic, childish, and tiring. The worst is your asking yourself questions and replying as if there are multiple Norms in your head. It’s not cute. It’s not style. It’s grade school idiocy.
I’m not saying I’m a great author. I’m not. Go ahead and test your writing skill in a free online grammar site. I estimate you’re at 6th grade level, with low intelligibility.
re: “Your quips and use of proper nouns known mostly to yourself is pathetic, childish, and tiring.”
gee, you sound mad…?
I guess maybe I’ll take time to reconsider.
Come on, not su much in the sense that is the track layout that helps as whichever X condition or variable on which Yami or riders or both are on level or better than the competition so it’s not that that much the advantage of hp but that the tighest track allow to set ratio’s differently and that put things on level with the other factories allowing a better rider to win (e.g.)….
On the other hand if we can make you reconsider that easy….
Bad Norm G, take your tea and buy me a nice Alpinestar full leather jacket… (please forget any mention about 6 pounds cobras….)
Most all the MotoGP engines make more power than can be harnessed at lower speeds. Wheelie/traction control makes sure these guys get as much usable power down as possible. Given their setups are likely pretty dialed, a HP advantage can really only be taken advantage of when applied to achieving higher speeds on long straightaways.
Tooootally with you Dave.
In fact I think the same trend is happening on 1000cc sport machines (hello >120 hp machines) with the electronics and ABS.
re: “Bad Norm G, take your tea and buy me a nice Alpinestar full leather jacket”
sorry, no free lunch or “zoup”.
re: “a HP advantage can really only be taken advantage of when applied to achieving higher speeds on long straightaways.”
YAHHTZZEE…! we’re in San Marino, Mugello’s to the west.
I read it and re-read it.. can’t see the potential panty-twisting verbiage. Quips?
So the tight track might favor the Yamaha. big deal. Lighten up Francis
Impossible to understand quip:
“YAHHTZZEE…! we’re in San Marino, Mugello’s to the west.”
What does the first work mean? What does the next phrase mean? Anyone? Does the author even know? I doubt it.
Example of Norm mentioning a proper noun known mostly to Norm, from post below:
“that’s bold statement. (Vincent Vega voice)”
Who lately uses names from a 20 year old B movie for literary impact? Sorry, epic fail. Please would someone interpret what the hell does Norm mean above? What does “Vincent Vega voice” mean?
The worst for me is when he says ” We shall proclaim you #2 “, implying that he’s #1. He obviously thinks highly of himself. Last time I checked ,this isn’t “Norm’s Blog” Mr. Egomaniac.
“My sense in watching the race is that Yamaha has gained a few much-needed engine horsepowers.”
I think so, too. Rossi and Lorenzo seemed to have better acceleration coming out of the corners than both Marquez and Pedrosa.
Don’t the prototypes get 5 engines at the start of the season, which are sealed? If Yamaha is getting more HP, is it via electronics and not mechanically?
re: “Don’t the prototypes get 5 engines at the start of the season, which are sealed?”
see, “snoop dog” get’s it.
Us old guys love VR because he msjes feel a little less old.
Nice. Very nice. And yes, I think Valentino would have won even if Marc had managed to keep it on two wheels. Rossi’s pace forced #93’s hand, and this time the youngster couldn’t pull it off.
Great to see Rossi firmly back in the mix.
re: “I think Valentino would have won even if Marc had managed to keep it on two wheels.”
that’s bold statement. (Vincent Vega voice)
don’t know if he would’ve won…? but I will say he looked to have his tail up, and that’s not body language I’ve seen out of Ross for some time.