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16.09.2007, 22:46
Ryder Notes: Reports of Racing's Death are Exaggerated
estoril race was a cracker
by julian ryder
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Ah, it was just like old times.... A three-way fight for the lead between the three top men in the championship on three different makes of bike using two different makes of tire. Add in fights all the way down the field, a couple of spectacular blow-ups, two brilliant support races in front of a capacity crowd and you wonder why anyone was worrying.
On yes, Valentino Rossi won again after the longest barren spell of his career. He had to deal with a very fast Dani Pedrosa who showed that Honda and Michelin's work has not been in vain. Casey Stoner was third after hitting a clutch problem early on. It started giving him a false neutral going into corners, not every time but often enough to make sure all his attention was on the problem. It dropped him off the front two but later in the race
Casey closed up on them as he learned to live it.
Nicky Hayden posted a new lap record and finished fourth after a hectic start to the race and a frantic tussle with Marco Melandri. Nicky set his lap record as he pushed to catch third-place Stoner but one mistake dropped him back and Nicky had used up a lot of tire in his early charge. After that, it was a matter of getting to the flag in fourth.
Rossi shadowed Pedrosa for a few laps, gathering data for the final lap before passing but not forcing the pace;
Pedrosa realized what was going on and pushed back to the lead. Both men made mistakes in the braking duel that followed until Rossi made a pass at the corner that Hayden and Pedrosa have cause to remember. Rossi came out of the last corner on that lap remembering 'how I lost the championship there last year'. He didn't let Dani get close enough to make a challenge this time.
Rossi dedicated his win to Scottish rally car legend Colin McRae who is feared dead after a helicopter crash.
Valentino called him a four-wheeled version of Kevin Schwantz and one of his 'idols.' Just to lighten the mood he then referred to winning for the first time since June as like finally having sex after a long bout of abstinence. 'The men understand me well.'
None of which alters the fact that there is now a high probability that a week from now Casey Stoner will be world champion.
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