Despite being outclassed by a faster Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi rode a clever race at Laguna Seca on Sunday to outwit the Australian and strengthen his championship lead.
Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) got away well off the start line while Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) got ahead of Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) briefly before the Italian regained second place before the first corner.
It was an eventful opening lap for the Fiat Yamaha team as Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) was evilly high-sided off his back after just three corners, and Rossi got past Stoner to take the lead. Behind them came Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Honda), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and Toni Elias (Alice Ducati).
On lap 3, Stoner got past Rossi back into the lead, but Rossi fought back straight away to regain the place. Stoner got past again only to have Rossi pounce in the Corkscrew to lead once more. at the end of the lap, Stoner got ahead down the main straight, but Rossi got the lead back again in the first corner - six changes in the lead in just one lap!
Further back, Dovizioso and Vermeulen swopped places twice and before Vermeulen made the pass stick and then got past Hayden into third.
Stoner appeared to have given up on challenging Rossi for the lead and seemed more content to just stalk the championship leader from one bike-length back as the leading pair opened up an 11-second gap over Vermeulen who had Hayden and Dovizioso two seconds behind him.
On lap 13, Stoner powered past Rossi on the main straight but then out-braked himself into turn one, running wide and allowing Rossi back into the lead once more, with a one-second gap.
Stoner set a new fastest lap time of 1'21.488 as he reduced the gap and closed up to Rossi once more.
Anthony West (Kawasaki Racing) ran off the track across the gravel on lap 21, but he was able to rejoin the race.
On lap 22, Stoner got past Rossi once more as they came down the main straight, but Rossi got ahead again before the first corner. The Australian barged past once more two corners later, and once again Rossi got back in front. Stoner pushed too hard into turn 11 and out-braked himself, running into the gravel and dropping the bike. He got going again, but 14 seconds down and with no chance of catching Rossi. With Stoner unsettled after his spill, the gap opened to 16 sec on the next lap but Vermeulen was still a further eight seconds behind.
Rossi had never previously won at Laguna Seca but a strategic and intelligent race on Sunday put an end to his jinx at the Californian circuit. The Italian increased his championship lead and is now on 212 points, 25 clear of Stoner with Dani Pedrosa dropping to third with 171.
Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) got away well off the start line while Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda) got ahead of Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) briefly before the Italian regained second place before the first corner.
It was an eventful opening lap for the Fiat Yamaha team as Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) was evilly high-sided off his back after just three corners, and Rossi got past Stoner to take the lead. Behind them came Hayden, Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Honda), Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) and Toni Elias (Alice Ducati).
On lap 3, Stoner got past Rossi back into the lead, but Rossi fought back straight away to regain the place. Stoner got past again only to have Rossi pounce in the Corkscrew to lead once more. at the end of the lap, Stoner got ahead down the main straight, but Rossi got the lead back again in the first corner - six changes in the lead in just one lap!
Further back, Dovizioso and Vermeulen swopped places twice and before Vermeulen made the pass stick and then got past Hayden into third.
Stoner appeared to have given up on challenging Rossi for the lead and seemed more content to just stalk the championship leader from one bike-length back as the leading pair opened up an 11-second gap over Vermeulen who had Hayden and Dovizioso two seconds behind him.
On lap 13, Stoner powered past Rossi on the main straight but then out-braked himself into turn one, running wide and allowing Rossi back into the lead once more, with a one-second gap.
Stoner set a new fastest lap time of 1'21.488 as he reduced the gap and closed up to Rossi once more.
Anthony West (Kawasaki Racing) ran off the track across the gravel on lap 21, but he was able to rejoin the race.
On lap 22, Stoner got past Rossi once more as they came down the main straight, but Rossi got ahead again before the first corner. The Australian barged past once more two corners later, and once again Rossi got back in front. Stoner pushed too hard into turn 11 and out-braked himself, running into the gravel and dropping the bike. He got going again, but 14 seconds down and with no chance of catching Rossi. With Stoner unsettled after his spill, the gap opened to 16 sec on the next lap but Vermeulen was still a further eight seconds behind.
Rossi had never previously won at Laguna Seca but a strategic and intelligent race on Sunday put an end to his jinx at the Californian circuit. The Italian increased his championship lead and is now on 212 points, 25 clear of Stoner with Dani Pedrosa dropping to third with 171.
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