Round four of the MotoGP World Championship is at Le Mans, France, but not on the same track as the 24 hour race. It is on what is known as the Bugatti Circuit and not the full Circuit de la Sarthe.
Casey Stoner will likely retire at the end of the season. This will be some race. This is the 55th French GP at Le Mans and the 800th grand prix motorcycle race. The big deal this weekend is that Casey Stoner is going to retire from MotoGP season. He is only 26 years old. But, he feels that he doesn't have the passion to race anymore. It's a very brave decision. Who will be there next year? Valentino Rossi may return but, who knows. Rossi will not retire, even though there were claims in the press that he would. Could Rossi return to Honda? Good question.
In qualifying, it rained. Dani Pedrosa scored pole position. Chris Vermuellen from Australia is filling in for the injured Colin Edwards. Edwards will be back at the next race. The Bugatti circuit runs within the Circuit de la Sarthe circuit for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 28 laps are scheduled for this race.
At the start, Randy de Puniet fell off the bike right at the start as the bikes head through the first few corners with Casey Stoner leading. Valentino Rossi is fourth now with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso also right in there. Jorge Lorenzo fights Pedrosa. Randy de Puniet may be able to get a spare bike. Lorenzo is ahead. Andrea Dovizioso and others batle. Ben Spies languishes in 18th place. Stefan Bradl is seventh now. But, Ivan Silva crashes. Stoner wants by Pedrosa. Valentino Rossi is up there and so are the Yamaha's ridden by Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso.
The conditions are getting worse it seems. Jorge Lorenzo is gapping the field it seems and at least has a margin over Stoner at this point. Valentino Rossi has won the Le Mans Grand Prix three times. Valentino Rossi passes Dani Pedrosa. Stefan Bradl had a crash in qualifying. There are many downhill braking zones at the Bugatti circuit as the bikes race through the Museum corner. Museum is one of the main corners on the Bugatti track. Looking at the replay of the start, Ben Spies had a big problem and Randy de Puniet slid off.
Spies is recovering, closing in on other competitors in the middle of the field. Ben Spies has lost more track position as he has the bike snap out from under him. He fortunately stayed on it. Rossi wants to get by Lorenzo. He's steadily chipping the gap away. Lorenzo is dominating. He's basically disappeared over Stoner, Rossi and Dovizioso. Cal Crutchlow, Andrea Dovizioso, Valentino Rossi, and Casey Stoner all battle for second. Ben Spies will drop to last in the field. Stoner sets fast lap at 1:46.322. Nicky Hayden, Alvaro Bautista and Hector Barbera round out the top ten.
Valentino Rossi is coming back in the first two sectors. Lorenzo has a four second gap over Casey Stoner coming into the last few corners, starting another lap. Meanwhile, Hector Barbera runs wide. Cal Crutchlow passes his team mate for fourth place going back into Museum. Valentino Rossi was passed by both Crutchlow and Dovizioso as Crutchlow got through in the Dunlop curve and through Chapel corner (Virage de la Chapelle). Jorge Lorenzo has matched Casey Stoner for quick laps. Dani Pedrosa and Stefan Bradl scrap for sixth spot. The race is just half over.
James Ellison is running thirteenth, getting more competitive with every race. Rossi tries passing Crutchlow and is successful. Dovizioso is in a podium spot. Rossi's Ducati has more power than the Yamaha going into the S curve. Rossi passes Dovizioso. Lorenzo has new fast lap at 1:45 flat. Stoner is something like 9/10 slower. Michael Schumacher is in attendance at this race. Cool! Seven laps remain. Rossi takes over third. Cal Crutchlow slid off his bike. He got back on but has lost spots. Rossi is third. Can Valentino Rossi get back on the podium?
The gap has shrunk between Stoner and Rossi. Rossi sets fast lap another time. It's going to be a battle for second spot as it looks like Lorenzo is riding off into the distance. Rossi is a half second quicker than Stoner. Jorge Lorenzo has been in control of this event since it began. James Ellison is in eleventh place still. He's remained there for most of the race. Valentino Rossi attacks Casey Stoner. He's booking it now. Just four laps remain in the race. Michele Pirro and Andrea Dovizioso have both crashed. Dovizioso was fourth. But, Rossi is right on top of Stoner. He passes him in the chicane. He's second now. Stoner passes into La Chapelle. The bikes go through Museum and Garage Vert (green garage corner).
The second place scrap is the one to watch. Just two laps to go now. Can Rossi close into the chicane? Not quite. He's lurking. The two of them are taking the same line. Jorge Lorenzo will win this as he's got nine seconds in hand. Through Museum, Stoner is just barely ahead. Back through Garage Vert, who will win this battle? Randy de Puniet is credited with fast lap. Elias Espargaro is a backmarker. Rossi tries to run past Stoner but just can't make it work. Rossi on the striaght still can't quite make it. Rossi slides by Stoner and then, he's able to block. Into La Chapelle, through Museum, and then Garage Vert, there's a half a lap left.
Rossi has passed Stoner. Casey Stoner will need to settle for third. Valentino Rossi still has the desire to race. But, Jorge Lorrenzo wins his third French Grand Prix at Le Mans!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha
The next race is a return to Spain for MotoGP to the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona. The race is in two weeks or so.
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