Bring it on.

[mx250]

Great insight, great reporting, great read.

http://www.motogpmatters.com/report/2009/06/16/2009_motogp_catalunya_race_report_triump.html


"A motorcycle racer must possess many qualities, both physical and mental, to be successful. They must have instantaneous reflexes; a gyroscope-like sense of balance; and a tough, wiry physique combining strength with low body weight. They must have the endurance of a triathlete combined with the fast-twitch muscle speed of an Olympic sprinter.

Racers also need the intelligence to cope with the huge amounts of data thrown at them, by the track, the bikes, the engineers. They need to be able to memorize a circuit down to the location of every bump in every corner, each of which could unsettle the bike and cause a crash. They need the courage to take to the track despite injury and push to the very limit, facing the knowledge that more pain lies lurking at every corner if ambition should tempt them to violate the laws of physics. And above all, they need the dogged determination and single-mindedness to put in the hours and hours of work needed to achieve all of this, day in and day out, rain or shine, come holidays or high water.

But the prime character trait that all motorcycle racers must have, the one thing they all share, is the will to win. The overwhelming desire to beat your rivals, to prove your superiority, is what drives racers to put in the years of hard work needed to acquire those other vital qualities. The will to win - for some a burning lust for victory, for others a mortal fear of defeat - is fundamental, and is the single most important quality which distinguishes champions from also-rans."

[snip]

"Nearly 9 seconds behind Lorenzo, Casey Stoner just held off the charging Andrea Dovizioso to take 3rd. The combination of the heat and stomach cramps had sapped the strength of the Australian, and by halfway, Stoner was falling back into the clutches of Dovizioso. He gathered the last of his strength, and forged on for the remainder of the race, gapping Dovi a little, only to see the Italian catch him again with 5 laps to go. Giving his all, the 2007 World Champion held Dovizioso off to take the final podium spot.

In parc ferme, it was clear just how much it had cost Stoner to hang on to 3rd. The Australian struggled off his bike, and stumbled across into the arms of his young wife Adriana, collapsing against the barrier which walls off the bikes. He was as close to the edge of exhaustion as it is possible to come, but his tenacity was rewarded, as 3rd place meant he was level on points in the championship standings, in an intriguing three-way tie for the championship lead."

[snip]

"Valentino Rossi's victory at Catalunya was a deeply informative lesson in many different respects. As the first race to be decided by less than a second since Estoril in 2007, and the first race to be decided by a last-lap pass since Estoril in 2006, it showed that the excitement isn't gone from MotoGP, and passing is still possible in the right conditions. It showed that parity is starting to return to MotoGP, as the class matures and the rules are left in (relative) peace. Yamaha have caught up with Ducati in terms of performance, and only Stoner's illness prevented him from putting up more of a fight.

It also shows how important the mental aspect is of motorcycle racing. After the race, Valentino Rossi told reporters that he had been dreaming of that pass all week, preparing it in his mind in case he needed it. Jorge Lorenzo said that he had left the door open, not expecting Rossi to be able to pass there, and was surprised to see him appear up the inside. But if Lorenzo had gone back over previous races, he could have known better. Back in 2007, Rossi pulled exactly the same move on Casey Stoner with five laps to go, in a previous thrilling edition at the Montmelo track."

[snip]

For this victory was also about something more, about imposing his will on events and on his rivals. Rossi further emphasized his victory with some subtle, and not so subtle, celebrations in parc ferme, leaping off his bike, over the pit wall and onto the tarmac on the front straight, to accept the adulation of the crowd. Jorge Lorenzo's home crowd, as the nearest thing Lorenzo has to a home circuit.

Rossi also did something he has done once before, in July last year. As Jorge Lorenzo stood being interviewed by the BBC, Rossi came across and interrupted, congratulating Lorenzo on the race. He did the same thing at Laguna Seca last year, when Casey Stoner was being interviewed after the race. The difference between the reactions between Stoner and Lorenzo were instructive as well: Stoner complained bitterly about the passes, and when told by Rossi "That's racing!" immediately replied "That's racing is it? We'll see..." Jorge Lorenzo, after accepting Rossi's compliments, had just three words to say: "Venga la proxima!" Bring on the next race!"

[floberts]

A good read.

I was annoyed when i changed the channel and saw the post race wrap to find out i had missed a beauty.

There has been some great races this year thats for sure.

[Paddles]

yep, what a racer, valentino is in all of their heads and no-one has ever really bounced a tough pass back at him. have you noticed that the only rider in the field that ever rattled his chain was tony elias after elias brought him down a year or two back. with the exception of lorenzo, no-one in the current paddock (stoner included) seems to be able to keep up with velentino in speed or the mind game, they can do either one or the other but not both. good racing though, isn't it.

[colmoody]

And Rossi's overtake on Lorezo on the OUTSIDE on the piks going into the turn at the end of the straight on the second to last lap (I think) will do me for one of the biggest and best I've seen.