Rossi roars to home victory
Added on Monday, September 7th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Rossi roars to home victory
Valentino Rossi transformed his Misano pole position into another race victory, in front of a thrilled home crowd in today’s MotoGP race from the Italian venue.
On the back of a successful weekend just one week ago at Indianapolis, Rossi’s fellow front row starter, Dani Pedrosa immediately shot into the lead as the race began, while Toni Elias followed him through in second. Having been mobbed at the start, Rossi was forced back to third, while teammate Jorge Lorenzo slotted into fourth.
As the seventeen strong field swept around the first few corners, Alex De Angelis, in the middle of the pack, lost his balance slightly. This resulted in himself and also American duo Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden out of the race before it barely began.
Back at the front, Elias was on top form, trying his best to find a way past Pedrosa. Meanwhile, Lorenzo had managed such a move on teammate and championship rival Rossi, promoting the young Spaniard to third. However, this manoeuvre was short lived, as Rossi, keen to impress the home crowd, made his way back past Lorenzo for third.
While the front order was being organised, Andrea Dovizioso had locked onto the lead battle, hoping to make up ground on some of his rivals.
After following Pedrosa and Elias for some time, Rossi eventually made his move for second, demoting Elias down the order slightly. Shortly afterwards, Lorenzo pushed the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider that bit further down the order, when he too made his way through for position.
Witht he lead scrap developing nicely, Briton James Toseland had made up ground on his fourteenth place grid start by jumping up to tenth in the opening stages.
Together, Rossi and Pedrosa were soon beginning to reel in leader Pedrosa, both hoping to be the man to triumph in a bid to enhance their championship charge. By lap eight of the twenty-eight lap distance, Rossi thundered through into the lead and soon set about extending the gap to his rivals behind him.
This move was soon followed by Lorenzo, who was determined not to let his elder teammate get away, and so took advantage of Pedrosa running wide to make a break for second.
As the leading duo romped into the distance, the pursuing pack each resumed their individual battles, hoping to resolve them by the time they reached the chequered flag.
As is always the case, time ran out for some, whilst others triumphed in the best way possible. With another twenty-eight laps completed towards the end of the championship, Rossi took the chequered flag and another twenty-five points that accompanied it, while Lorenzo was forced to watch in second once again – the only consolation being that he himself claimed as many points as possible, acting as damage limitation to his title fight.
Pedrosa managed to hold onto third, while Dovizioso held off a charge from Loris Capirossi on the final lap to take fourth. Elias dropped to sixth by the end, as a race long tussle between Mika Kallio and Marco Melandri was won by the former, finishing just ahead of the Italian. Chris Vermeulen stole ninth from Toseland, with the Brit completing the top ten.
Discussing his win, an ecstatic Rossi said: “I am so happy because this victory is more important than normal, coming after a bad mistake in Indianapolis just seven days ago and especially because my team and I did a great job, from Friday afternoon. It was a perfect weekend, we were always very fast in all the practices and we are always proud of all the fans here in Misano. Thanks to them for all their support.
“I hoped to make a better start and get to the front but Dani (Pedrosa) and Toni (Elías) overtook me on the first corner and then Jorge at the end of the first lap, so I was fourth and in a little bit of trouble. I had a full fuel load and wasn’t 100% confident.
“I decided to find my rhythm and get the right temperature into the tyres, then I started to push and it was a great race. It was a great battle with Toni, Jorge and Dani. When I got in front I couldn’t see everything behind me but I saw Jorge overtake Dani. I had three or four corners where I was very fast so I tried to use that advantage to the maximum.” He added.
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