Pedrosa wins at Laguna Seca
Eurosport - Mon, 06 Jul 21:45:00 2009
Honda's Dani Pedrosa won the US MotoGP Grand Prix, the Spaniard's first victory in over a year, by holding off a late challenge from world champion and current leader Valentino Rossi.
Italian Rossi, the five-times Moto GP world champion, extends his lead in the standings to nine points after finishing ahead of his closest rival, Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.
Spaniard Lorenzo, who took pole position despite crashing and partially dislocating his collar bone in qualifying on Saturday, bravely pushed Rossi hard but had to settle for third.
Rossi ended 0.344 seconds behind Pedrosa, with Lorenzo 1.582 off the winning pace. Ducati's Casey Stoner was fourth.
The Yamaha pair battled with each other for second place for most of the race after Pedrosa got in front early to complete the challenging course in 44 minute 01.580 seconds.
Pedrosa had not won since his victory in the Catalan Grand Prix in June 2008 and despite being a good distance in front throughout, he had to fend of Rossi late in the final lap.
With Pedrosa easing off in the final stages, Rossi sensed the chance for a dramatic victory at the final hairpin but the distance was just too far.
"I was comfortable, doing great, laps and just in the last lap I relaxed a little bit too much," Pedrosa said.
"I saw almost two seconds (on the board) when I passed for the last lap and then at the last corner I saw Rossi's bike.
Fortunately it was the last lap and I could win the race. It's a good feeling to be back winning for me and also for my team," he added.
Rossi said he had held back from a full challenge given the risks involved and the low chance of success.
"It was a risky place and I was not close enough to Dani to try. I came down the hill on the last lap like a crazy man and I arrived behind him but it was too risky, there was a risk to touch Dani or go wide together.
"In the end, second place and 20 points is important," said Rossi, the pre-race favourite.
Italian Loris Capirossi crashed out in the fourth lap and Britain's James Toseland was disqualified after a jump start.
Lorenzo, who had an icepack treatment straight after the race and had to be helped up to the podium, said he had suffered pain throughout the race.
"I did a bad start, things were so difficult but with the bad start it was more difficult. I did the best I could, the pain was terrible," he said.
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 5 - 24 of 24
Casey Stoner shoves beetroot up his bottom
Shocked to see Pedrosa win, but well done to him it has has been a difficult year. Don't mean to be cruel or undermine his victory but it was time-trial style win, if he had to battle for it im 100% sure he would have lost against Rossi, Lorenzo or Stoner. Great to see Nicky do well!
Chuffed old stroppy knickers won, valentino showed his class, Lorenzo his skill and bavery, Toseland his ignorance. Get Johnny Rea on the bike NOW!! Why not come in when told and get some points, everyone else does?! At this ate James will struggle to get a ride in the Thundesport series!!
So sad, but like Neil Hodgson before him, he is greedy and above himself.
Rossi to win title, Lorenzo to sadly be runner up with Pedrosa third. Stoner to be top 6 as this illness will ruin his chances.
Not really a Dani fan myself either - that no-mark manager of his certainly isn't doing him any favours either! Great ride though, although ordinarily when everyone is fit and on a good set up he's always going to be battling with Dovi for fourth place I think. Will probably manage his usual two or three wins again but ultimately the title is already beyond his reach again this season.
Not a big fan of Dani (he looks sad most of the time) but I must say an excellent ride and a win well deserved indeed! Congratulations Dani. I am a huge Rossi fan, but no one can deny the ride from Lorenzo was epic. To push Rossi that hard was amazing wehn you consider his injuries .I know Rossi had problems with set up and I wouldn't be a great fan if I didn't mention that for him..Would love to see Lorenzo fighting fit for Sasch and Rossi on a good set up, so we can see who will win in that situation. Oh, yeah...well done to Lorenzo too for saving your bike when it looked like you overcooked your braking on the bumps..great job at staying on and not taking Rossi out either :)
casey stoner is a p r i c k
Its Time For Stoner to stop making excuses before races and get on with it.
Lorenzo in agony races like a warrior.Pedrosa has been througth the wars and still tries.
Casey rides the Ducati great but cant really race with Lorenzo and Rossi
great race
Good move by Vale not to chance it on the last hairpin 'TO RISKY' Vale so gracious in defeat with Pedrosa I think he really likes the guy. Lorenzo is a true gladiator off the bike twice, injured,and could have won it !! he has gained my respect . brilliant rider, just gets on with it. a crackin' race
Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I met a man who are 40 now on a dating service. he wants to see me and even have fun with me. but i am 18 now. I don't know whether i should go to see him. he ever said to me that all girls on that site ~~ sug ar match maker,com~~ are seeking fun.. why am not I?
i want to congratulate the BIG DANNY it is not easy.i love how he break the top three this time despite that the italian man is my best admirer i mean valentino de rossi but am very happy for Pedrosa.In the last race where Rossi clinch his 100th title he try his best but was unfortunate by the risk of the race i was not happy that day.but thank GOD that he make it today.he even said that day i mean last week in germany that he will break the top three but was unfortunate that day but he did it today.i thank GOD of heaven for him and the entire staff of HONDA.i wish him the bright future to reach 100th title like my man DE ROSSI
Hahaha @#$% you all....i have no heroes!!! I wish Vale could have one more turn and you know what i mean you Midget Fans!!!!!!!!
Hey sputnik_nyc ,
Lose the anger, mate. It will rot you from the inside out.
Hey Sputnik_NYC, you goon.
Get a clue. Looks like your rider got his arse spanked. The laughs are on you, mate. You need to lose that zero you cheer for and get a real hero. And again, the laughs on you. Cheers.
rrcarsofgosport
Enjoy it, it wont happen any more!!! One win per year!!!!!
WELL DONE DANI YOU SUPERSTAR!!!!it was great to give my rossi arse licking mates the finger as i've had to put up with so much @#$% over the last 13months and i feel that the change of chassis and you nearly fully mended that we are turning the corner and putting REPSOL HONDA were they rightfully belong- THE TOP- REPSOL ROSS
JAMES TOSELAND DISQUALIFIED! COULD JAMES HAVE JUST TURNED OVER HIS RIDE TO BEN SPIES FOR NEXT YEAR?????
Impressed with Toseland today. I thought he couldn't get much worse but he proved me wrong!
THIS YEARS RACE WAS A VICTIM OF THE SPEC. TIRE RULE AND BRIDGESTONE. BRIDGESTONE ONLY OFFERED A SINGLE COMPOUND TIRE WHICH SURELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASHES OF STONER AND LORENZO. LAST YEAR THE BRIDGESTONE RIDERS WERE ABLE TO USE A MORE EFFECTIVE DUAL COMPOUND TIRE WHICH AFFORDED THE INCREDIBLE GRIP WHICH ALLOWED ROSSI AND STONER TO ENGAGE IN THE BEST BATTLE OF THE SEASON. PLEASE REFER TO SuperBikePlanet FOR THE RIDERS INTERVEWS AFTER QUALIFYING, ROSSI EXPLAINS THE TIRE PROBLEM. IF BRIDGESTONE CANNOT PROVIDE THE SAFEST TIRE CHOICE FOR THE RIDERS THEN MAYBE MOTO GP SHOULD RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS TIRE RULES. NEVER FORGET THAT THESE GUYS LIVES ARE LITERALLY ON THE LINE EVERY TIME THEY RACE. THIS REALLY HIT HOME WHILE WATCHING THE RACE AND THEY SHOWED WAYNE RAINEY IN HIS WHEEL CHAIR, PROBABLY FOR LIFE.
"Spaniard's first victory in over a year" ROFL........that's funny!!!
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account