MotoGP Round 11: Czech Republic

It's a two-for-one sale on MotoGP race reports.  First up, highlights of round eleven from Brno in the Czech Republic, which yours truly missed blogging because of being in Pennsylvania for a music festival, when it happened.  Then, next up, will be highlights of round twelve, (the current round of the championship), from the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England.

Marc Marquez has an 89 point lead over Dani Pedrosa.  We're ready for a start.  Some have soft front tires, and others, soft rear tires.  Ducati is on the front row for the first time since 2006.  Go!  Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Ianonne battle as Dani Pedrosa passes Marc Maruqez.  Andrea Ianonne leads.  Jorge Lorenzo around the outside.  They plunge downhill to turn five.  Marc Marquez runs wide.  What has happened to Marquez?  Valentino Rossi and Aleix Espargaro are coming, too.

Into turn ten, the Kevin Schwantz corner.  Marquez is sixth.  But Jorge Lorenzo wants Dani Pedrosa and Pedrosa wants by Dovizioso.  There's battles all over this race track!  Ducati vs. Honda.  Andrea Dovizioso takes the lead from Andrea Ianonne.  Bradley Smith sinks from fourth to ninth as Lorenzo leads on lap two of 24 schedule.  Marc Marquez runs wide.  Cal Crutchlow is out of the race.  Game over.  Back downhill to the Kevin  Schwantz corner again.

Dani Pedrosa goes inside Dovizioso.  Everyone is pushing, and pushing hard, as Cal Crutchlow rejoins the race.  Marquez chases Rossi coming back into turn one.  Lorenzo is pulling away and there's a huge battle.  Pedrosa is second ahead of Ianonne while Lorenzo whistles off into the distance.  Marc Marquez has lots of work to do if he is going to keep his winning streak alive.  They race to turnh three and Marc Marquez nabs third from Andrea Ianonne.  Ianonne tries to pass but runs wide.

Marquez is trying, but Ianonne says, "no way!"  Marquez and Ianonne touch!  This is heavy racing.  These two blokes battled this way in Moto 2.  Watch out.  Marquez now runs third.  Seventeen laps to go.  Dani Pedrosa is holding steady in second.  Jorge Lorenzo continues to lead through the left hand kink.  Pedrosa takes it up the inside and takes the race lead over Jorge Lorenzo.  Lorenzo tries, but no.  Game over for Yonny Hernandez.

Rossi is trying to stay with Marc Marquez.  These opening laps have been remarkable!  Can the Ducati's stay with the Yamaha and the Honda's?  Rossi sets his personal best lap.  Pedrosa is quickest of the top three.  138,000 people are at Brno to watch this race.  Oh no!  Michael Laverty crashes.  He's out.  Pol Espargaro is also out.  He's wrecked his bike after being in a battle with his brother Aleix Espargaro, and his team mate, Bradley Smith.

Pedrosa leads at halfway.  Stefan Bradl is pushing hard.  He wants by Ianonne and Dovizioso.  He's trying to reel in the Ducati's.  Karel Abraham passes Leon Camier.  He's only in his second MotoGP event.  Rossi is closiong on Marquez.  This could very well be the first defeat for Marc Marquez.  That's sad, because he won't be able to beat Giacomo Agostini's record.  He will be tied with Agostini, for now.  Marc Marquez has also not finished off the podium in MotoGP.

Marquez is just going to have to accept this.  Rossi is in his face.  He's attacking at every single opportunity.  Here comes Rossi.  He can't get by.  Now, Rossi comes through in turn six.  He's pushing.  But, something is missing from Marquez's race.  Nine laps now remain as they race through turn twelve.  Marquez closes on Rossi again.  Marquez wants rain.  But it doesn't look like it's going to come at all.  Nine laps remain.  Marquez is behind Pedrosa, definitely.  Pedrosa won here, two years ago.

Marquez continues to push.  But, Dani Pedrosa has 1.7 seconds in hand over Jorge Lorenzo.  In 2012, Pedrosa won six of the last eight races, if you recall.  Pedrosa and Lorenzo are separated by 1.6 seconds while Rossi defends from Marquez.  Something is not right with Marquez.  He was on pole.  Pedrosa and Lorenzo were looking good after warmup.  The Ducati team mates pass each other.  Pedrosa, if he wins, will get 26 career wins, matching his race number on his motorcycle. 

Andrea Dovizioso passes Andrea Ianonne.  We've got six laps left.  Make that five.  The big news is that Marc Marquez won't rewrite history.  That's kind of an odd thing to think about.  The gap is now 1.3 seconds.  Quick time is being volleyed around between Pedrosa and Lorenzo.  Back through Kevin Schwantz corner.  Jorge Lorenzo of course, has signed a new two-year contract with Yamaha.  The gap is now 1.3 seconds.  Four laps left in Brno.  Another tenth gone.  But, Pedorsa is going to keep this lead.  The lap times are in the 1:56 range.

Leon Camier has passed Karel Abraham for the last points paying place.  Camier used to race in FIM World Superbike.  Dovizioso and Ianonne battle.  These two will be factory Ducati team mates, next year.  Three laps remain now.  Make that two.  1.1 seconds, the gap.  Dani Pedrosa last won at Sepang in Malaysia, last year.  Marc Marquez languishes in fourth.  Ianonne and Dovizioso still scrap for fifth.  Marquez is 3.3 seconds behind Valentino Rossi.

Hiroshi Aoyama and other riders languish.  Cal Crutchlow has also retired, and new MotoGP racer Alex de Angelis, is also not having the best of races here at Brno.  It's the last lap for Dani Pedrosa before his first win of 2014 and first since Malaysia last year.  Dovizioso will have to make a move on Ianonne soon.  Dovizioso takes Ianonne at turn three.  What will he doe?  Ianonne comes back on Dovizioso.  He's ahead.  He wants to put the Pramac Ducati ahead of the factory bike.

Jorge Lorenzo is closing up on Dani Pedrosa.  But, two corners to go.  No time for Lorenzo.  It's the last corner, and Dani Pedrosa wins it!  He has beaten his dominant team mate, Marc Marquez, fair and square, while Marquez can only muster fourth.  It's his first finish off the podium.  So, he won't be too happy.  But, Dani Pedrosa will.  The good news for Repsol Honda, is, they're still unbeaten.

#26 Dani Pedrosa     ESP.    Honda

Next up, it's Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix.  Now, that race is taking place today, (August 31st).  So, yours truly will blog the race, but, publish it, tomorrow, (September 1st).  Stay tuned to find out what happens. 

MotoGP news headed into Silverstone

Lots of stories to keep an eye on as we head into this weekend's MotoGP action at the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England.

The biggest news, former 500cc Grand Prix racer Jeremy McWilliams returns, to race Moto 2 as a wild card rider at Silverstone this weekend.  Plus, more news.

McWilliams prepares for special Grand Prix appearance
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/McWilliams+prepares+for+special+Grand+Prix+appearance

***

Dakota Mammola: 'No pressure on me from team'
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Dakota+Mamola+No+pressure+on+me+from+team

Camier: 'There's nothing better than racing in front of home fans'
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Camier+Theres+nothing+better+than+racing+in+front+of+home+fans

Crutchlow on 'character building' year so far
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Crutchlow+on+character+building+year+so+far

Ducati team wrap up two-day test at Misano
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Ducati+Team+wrap+up+twoday+test+at+Misano

Redding excited to race at Silverstone again
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Redding+excited+to+race+at+Silverstone+again

Smith: 'This season has taught me to be patient'
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Smith+This+season+has+taught+me+to+be+patient

Marquez brings London to a standstill on Millennium Bridge
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Marquez+brings+London+to+a+standstill+on+Millennium+Bridge

Marquez and rivals all set for Silverstone showdown
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Marquez+and+rivals+all+set+for+Silverstone+showdown

Marquez on top again in Friday practice
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/MotoGP+FP2+Silverstone+Marquez

The history of Grand Prix racing at Silverstone

All you need to know about the rich history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing at Silverstone.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/The+history+of+Grand+Prix+racing+at+Silverstone

Rossi and Lorenzo prepare for UK action

Factory Yamaha team mates Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi, are confident, going into this weekend's MotoGP British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit in Silverstone, England.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Movistar+Yamaha+Prepare+for+Action+in+Silverstone

Yamaha, New Jersey Motorsports Park announce renewed partnership

A little late with this particular story, as it was published over a week ago.  But, Yamaha, has renewed their partnership to sponsor New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, New Jersey.

http://www.amaproracing.com/rr/news/index.cfm?cid=61083

Dakota Mamola to replace Nico Terol at Silverstone

Breaking news from Moto 2.  American-Belgian rider Dakota Mamola, the son of World Grand Prix motorcycle racer Randy Mamola, will make his debut in the series, replacing Nico Terol for Mapfre Aspar Team Moto 2.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/dakota+mamola+debuts+in+moto2

Silverstone poised for Battle of Britain

A preview of this weekend's MotoGP Hertz British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Circuit.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2014/Silverstone%20MotoGP%20preview