Tuscany in Italy... specifically, the city of Mugello, and the Autodromo del Mugello, hosts round six of the 2015 MotoGP World Championship. After this event, one third of the 2015 season for MotoGP, will be complete.
In the peaceful Italian countryside, a chant can be heard, shouted by millions of fans. Valentino Rossi. Will Rossi win? Will one of his competitors steal the glory? We're about to find out. Food, wine, and great scenery, are a part of this region of Italy. But, it is also well known for great racing. Valentino Rossi has won at Mugello, seven times. 2006 MotoGP World Champion, Nicky Hayden, says that he's doing better with the performance of his 2015 Honda bike.
The bike is more powerful, and the electronics package is also better on the bike. Nicky Hayden wants to win the Open class, but also, fight the factory riders, such as those from Suzuki and Aprilia. Back in 2006, he had a bad qualifying session. But, Hayden came back and won, at that time, on a Ducati, making the Italian fans happy. The crowd should be excited with the Ducati's competitive, and also, Valentino Rossi. Italy, Great Britain, and The Netherlands, are the only nations to hold a MotoGP race, since the World Championship began, back in 1949.
The first time Mugello hosted a Grand Prix was in 1976. Barry Sheene won. The Espargaro brothers, both went through surgery after Le Mans. Valentino Rossi has won at Mugello seven times, with his last win in 2008. Marc Marquez is struggling. He crashed in Free Practice 4. He'll start thirteenth. How have MotoGP bike evolved lately? Well, Yamaha have won four out of five. Marc Marquez has won one. Ducati is also up there. On the tech side, Yamaha hasn't upgraded. But they haven't needed to. They are not the fastest bikes. But, they have good power and acceleration.
Ducati tested at Mugello before the Le Mans race. Ducati has two liters extra fuel in the tank, and can use more horsepower. The handling issues are resolved. Honda, won last year, with Marc Marquez. But, the chassis and the motor, have not met the results they've wanted this year, so far. Honda is having a tough time. Suzuki is slightly down on power. But Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales need more power, better electronics, and the soon-to-be introduced seamless gearbox. Aprilia has a seamless gearbox.
They are hoping to step up, before rules changes, for next year. Yamaha is on fire right now. The fans are going to go crazy today. Actor Keanu Reeves is here, and is a huge MotoGP fan. We are northeast of Florence, Italy. The track has been permanently on the MotoGP schedule since 1991. The straights top 200 miles an hour, with fast corners. We race the BMW S1000RR MotoGP safety bike through San Donato and Lucco. The esses are a key part of the track. Through San Lorenzo into Casanova, and downhill in third gear.
Momentum carries you through Sevelli and Arrabiata I & II. Arrabiata, in Italian, means anger. Don't get angry, when you race. Keep a cool head. Through Scarperia, and Pologgio. The track is second and third geasr, through Correntaio, with a wide but tight entry, into the Biondetti esses, and hammer the gas for the final corner. Lead into the finalc orner, which is the longest corner on the road. Fly down the fastest straight in MotoGP.
In qualifying, after Marquez's crash in final practice, he had to pass through Q2. He set a competitive time. But, he saved a tire, and was bumped by Yonny Hernandez. He'll be 13th. Andrea Ianonne is on pole on the Ducati. The home team is in front. Ianonne still has a shoulder problem. Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso will be the riders to beat. Andrea Ianonne becomes the first Italian on an Italian bike to be on pole for his home race, since Giacomo Agostini at Imola, in 1972.
Get a good start. Stay with the lead pack. Stay focused. It's a fast, flowing circuit. Concentrate. Pick the right tires. The high speed turns, and the hot track, will be critical. We're ready to race in Italy, next!
The bikes are on their warmup lap. 23 laps are scheduled for this race. Who will come out on top today? The excitement is amazing. 91,000 fans are here to cheer on their hero, Valentino Rossi, and the two Ducati's. Ducati has only their third MotoGP pole, as Andrea Ianonne is following Casey Stoner and Sete Gibernau. Problems for Marc Marquez? No. Let's go, now. Go! We're off! Did Andrea Ianonne jump the start?
Marc Marquez is pushing through the field as Andrea Dovizioso leads Jorge Lorenzo. Did Andrea Ianonne jump the start? That's the question. Was his start legal? Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith, and others, got a good start. Jorge Lorenzo is into the lead. Andrea Dovizioso is coming, and so is Marc Marquez, who has passed nine riders already. Jorge Lorenzo stays in the lead. Marc Marquez is up to fourth. Valentino Rossi has sunk to 11th spot. Lorenzo leads lap one with the Ducati's second and third, and here comes Marquez into the top three.
Ianonne wants to pass. He's not taking anything sitting down. Recall Le Mans, France, two weeks ago. Valentino Rossi is moving up, wanting to pass the Honda of Cal Crutchlow. Lorenzo still leads through both of the Arrabiata corners. Jorge Lorenzo is right where he wants to be, and can start reeling off fast, consistent laps. It's catch me if you can. They fly at 215 miles an hour down the front straight. Marquez passes Andrea Dovizios into San Donato. Now, Marquez is second. But, Aleix Espargaro has crashed! Not good for him. Game over for the Suzuki rider. His leathers may have ripped, and he's got to be careful with his injured hand.
Lorenzo leads. Karel Abraham has a penalty for a jumped start. Marquez sets fast lap in the 1:32 range. Down towards San Donato again. Jorge Lorenzo wants his third straight win, and he's won a few races here. Game over for Jack Miller. He's crashed. Marquez sets fast lap at 1:47.654. Michele Pirro has also been passed, and he is standing in for . Stefan Bradl and Nicky Hayden, have both crashed. Alex de Angelis has pitted.
The stewards investigate the Aleix Espargaro and Danilo Petrucci incident. Andrea Dovizioso has passed Marc Marquez. Danillo Petrucci and Aleix Espargaro, have crashed of course, and Espargaro had a big crash, and is in a lot of pain. Now, Jorge Lorenzo is checking out on everyone else. Jorge Lorenzo is 9/10ths quicker than Andrea Dovizioso and 1.1 seconds faster than Marc Marquez on lap six. Arriva derci, baby. Marc Marquez is sandwiched between the two factory Ducati's as Dovizioso is second.
Aleix Espargaro is groggy, but he's not hurt too badly. The two Ducati's are battling with Marc Marquez. Dani Pedrosa is closing up as Valentino Rossi closes on Cal Crutchlow, too. Marquez runs wide, and holds onto third spot. FYI. Michele Pirro is a third Ducati.., a wildcard, for this race. Marquez runs wide, and Dovizioso cannot pass. Marquez runs wide into San Donato, and is still going for it. Lorenzo is 1.1 seconds clear, in the lead. Valentino Rossi moves past Cal Crutchlow, who runs wide. He's still got a damaged right hand.
Rossi is up to sixth, passing Crutchlow. It's a real battle between Lorenzo and Rossi. Marc Marquez is now second. Andrea Ianonne has been going for it. But, he's now running on adrenaline. The gap now between Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, is 1.8 seconds. Bradley Smith passes Cal Crutchlow. Crutchlow has pain in his thumb, after hurting it in a wreck in the warmup this morning. Valentino Rossi pushes into Correntaio. Andrea Ianonne leads Marc Marquez. Rossi is going for it as ihis foot slides off the foot peg, and slides the rear of the motorcycle.
Valentino Rossi sets his personal best lap at 1:48.528. It is a four or five rider battle for second place. Ianonne is running well, despite his fractured shoulder. Dani Pedrosa tries passing Andrea Dovizioso, but no. Rossi is looking for second as trhrough Bucine, Pedrosa passes. Jorge Lorenzo is six seconds clear of everyone else. Dovizioso is starting to fade. Can Valentino Rossi move up to second? We've got just over ten laps to go in this race, folks. We're going to be coming down to the wire, soon.
"The Doctor" is in the house. Valentino Rossi, passes Andrea Dovizioso, for fifth. Maverick Vinales is moving up, on the sole remaining factory Suzuki. Andrea Dovizioso has dropped way down. He's got an issue. Ducati won't win this one. Dovizioso is in the pits. Game over for Dovizioso. He crashed in the morning warmup. The rear tire is a problem. They need a new rear tire. No new rear tire. We'll see what happens. Meanwhile, we watch Jorge Lorenzo putting on another clinic. This is MotoGP at it's finest. He's ahead of Andrea Ianonne, by 7.2 seconds.
Now, with the Ducati, there's an issue with the chain, not the tire. Game over for Andrea Dovizioso. Valentino Rossi is moving up. He's leading the world championship, but only, by a single point right now. Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith scrap for seventh. Now, we see Valentino Rossi wanting to move by Dani Pedrosa. Andrea Ianonne still holds second, with Jorge Lorenzo who leads, and wants to win. Into Bucine, Rossi cannot pass Pedrosa. San Donato will be the only chance. Marc Marquez wants by Ianonne, and he can't stick the pass on Ianonne!
Valentino Rossi is still pushing to pass Pedrosa. Cal Crutchlow holds off Bradley Smith. Marquez takes secopnd as Ianonne wants a pass in Arrabiata I. and II. Through Scarperia, and into Correntaio. Ianonne has the drive, but can he pass Marquez? The Ducati has the horsepower and is the fastest bike in MotoGP. The Ducati eats up the Honda, and Marquez can't do anything. He runs wide. Here comes Dani Pedrosa! Oh no! Marc Marquez has crashed out! Game over! His season is going from bad to worse. He will not be champion this year.
A scrap now happening between Rossi and Pedrosa, and Rossi goes to third! The crowd goes berserk! Pedrosa has been relegated to fourth. Honda's race, is a nightmare. Marc Marquez had the front end of his Honda wash away, and that caused the wreck. Andrea Ianonne remains second. Rossi and Pedrosa are still fighting. Can Andrea Ianonne stay at it with his badly injured shoulder? Through Poggio Secco. Ducati confirms that Dovizioso's problem, was rear tire chatter. Through Biondetti, Lorenzo is mastering everyone.
Cal Crutchlow is fifth. Lorenzo has an 8.3 second lead over Ianonne. Rossi is up to third, and Dani Pedrosa is pushing him. Jorge Lorenzo is crashing everyone else's party. Andrea Dovizioso is philosophical, but disappointed. Nil points for Marc Marquez as well. A wretched weekend for Marc Marquez. Bradley Smith is coming under pressure from Pol Espargaro. Cal Crutchlow will ride to a fifth place finish, with a damaged thumb. Pol Espargaro sets his personal best lap at 1:48.698. Michele Pirro is ninth, as the third Ducati.
Jorge Lorenzo is on his way to his third straight MotoGP race win. Oh no. Cal Crutchlow has crashed, and hard. He had a big wreck in the warmup. He's had a huge wreck at Arrabiata I. Oh! The front end washed away, and the bike slammed, riderless, into the tires. Loris Baz is 12th and has had a good race. There's a lap and a half to go. Jorge Lorenzo is going to win this event. No one can run Lorenzo's pace. But, can Rossi close on Andrea Ianonne? Ianonne is losing strength in his shoulder. It may not be pain. But, it's a lack of strength.
Now, the final lap. Lorenzo is in control. The gap is 6.10ths of a second between Ianonne and Rossi. Bradley Smith is fifth. Maverick Vinales also turns in a great race for Suzuki and will get his career best MotoGP finish in seventh spot. The gap is 8/10ths of a second. Ianonne holds off the charge of Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo is at the pinnacle of his form right now. A two-time MotoGP champion. A two-time 250cc champion. Lorenzo crosseds the line,a dn has won three in a row!
#99 Jorge Lorenzo ESP. Yamaha
The next MotoGP race, marks a return to Spain. It's going to be at the Circuit de Catalunya, in Barcelona, in two weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment