I have been anticipating Sunday’s race, since the season ended, last year. The first race of the season did not disappoint. First of all, MotoGP, for the first time ever was broadcast in HD. Second, the first race of the season, under the lights of Qatar is the only night race of the season, which makes it that much more dramatic.  All of the big players from last year were back to represent. Stoner crashed out and handed Rossi a podium. Lorenzo came from behind to land a second place finish, with a broken hand. Hayden rode in second and third position, most of the race. He ended up finishing 4th by a fraction of a second, when his Ducati couldn’t quite out-muscle Dovizioso’s Respol Honda on the last straight. Also, Ben Spies made the jump from Superbike, this season, and is racing as a privateer. He finished 5th position. Super impressive. I hope that the rest of the season continues to be as good.

I have been doing pretty well about fighting the urge to write about motorcycle racing lately. But today, I couldn’t resist. The British Grand Prix in Donington Park, Sunday was one for the books. The race was wet, but not super wet. It was just rainy enough to keep a steady flow of crashes going, but not wet enough to give an advantage to anyone who pitted and switched to wet weather tires. Lorenzo crashed out while leading. Tony Elias crashed out while leading. With inside of 10 laps to go, Rossi had opened up a 13 second gap between himself and the rider in 3rd. The rookie Andre Dovizioso was only a second or so off of Rossi’s time, following his lines.

With about 6 laps to go Rossi, lowsided into the grass. Since he has created such a large advantage at the front, he was able to pick up his bike and get back in the race, in 9th position. He finished 6th! What the crap?! Rossi never fails to entertain. And since the next guy down the order, as far as world championship points go, is Lorenzo (who crashed out), Rossi increased his point margin as well. Dovizioso went on to win his first GP race. DePuniet and Edwards joined him on the podium. Complete results here.

[photo: Motogp.com]

Mugello, as the case at Le Mans, started with a wet track, though the rain had stopped. These conditions lead to a dry line forming on the track after several laps, necessitating tire change. Wet/dry of races are always sloppy. Those who change tires too soon, low side (Rossi, at Le Mans). Those who wait too long, lose their position, because the early changers are eating 4 seconds out of their lap times.

Sunday’s race was no different. With the wet tires, the unlikely her Melandri actually led the race for several laps in front of the Italian Crowd. After the entire field had pitted to change bikes (shod with race slicks), Stoner was on a mission. He was able to get in first position and make it stick. Melandri could not get his bike dialed in with the dry tires and started sinking like a stone, through the order. There was a bit of  a battle at the front between Dovizioso and the leaders. But Dovizioso, also, could not keep up the pace, and eventually dropped into fourth position, as he was overtaken by Rossi for the final podium spot, with 3 laps to go.

Lorenzo lowsided in the warm up lap, had a terrible start, on his back up bike, and still managed to end up finishing second. This phenominal effort on Lorenzo’s part, earned him the spot back at the top of the world championship points. Full results can be found here.

The podium order was Stoner, Lorenzo and  Rossi. Caprirossi finished right behind Dovizioso in 5th place, which was a phenomenal result for a Suzuki factory bike.

Pedrosa crashed out with a nasty highside, after his slicks were still warming up. He appears to have re-injured a pre-existing hip injury.

The next race is June 14, in Catalunya, hopefully on a dry track!