Rossi romps as Stoner crashes out

Eurosport - Mon, 18 Aug 22:18:00 2008

Valentino Rossi tightened his grip on the MotoGP world championship lead, winning the Czech GP at Brno while Casey Stoner crashed out.

2008 Czech GP Valentino Rossi - 0

Reigning champion Stoner lost the front end of his Ducati while leading on lap seven of 22, sliding into the gravel.

Although he briefly rejoined the race the Australian retired the following lap as his bike was too badly damaged.

Rossi cruised to a dominant win, crossing the line over 15 seconds ahead of Alice Ducati's Toni Elias, with Rizla Suzuki veteran Loris Capirossi third.

The win leaves Rossi 50 points clear of Stoner - the equivalent of two race wins - with six rounds remaining, leaving the Italian odds-on to claim a sixth world championship in motorcycling's premier class.

"It's a great advantage [to have a 50-point lead]," Rossi said.

"[But with] six races with a driver like Stoner who demonstrates a fantastic speed everywhere and in every condition, it's not enough, but for sure better than 25."

"Yesterday was very difficult," said Elias, who captured the fourth podium of his career.

"[So] I started from the back, I passed many riders during the race and was finally in second and comfortable with my rhythm."

The Brno circuit heavily favoured the Bridgestone tyres used by each of the top eight, with Michelin riders a long way off the pace both in the race and Saturday's wet qualifying session.

Britain's James Toseland struggled all weekend - and was technically outside the qualifying time limit - and had to settle for 13th place, just ahead of Tech 3 Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards.

One-time championship leader Dani Pedrosa - another Michelin runner - claimed just a single point in 15th as he continues to be dogged by injury.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 45 - 64 of 64

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  1. AND, THAT IS THE FACT!

    From Emilija Jana, on Wed 20 Aug 3:39PM

  2. ss_a9x, NOBODY IS PERFECT, BUT ROOSSI IS SO CLOSE! SEVEN TIME WORLD CHAMPION (SOON EIGHT) CAN NOT BE "MAY BE GOOD", HE IS BRILLIANT! HI IS THE BEST!!!

    From Emilija Jana, on Wed 20 Aug 3:38PM

  3. Whats this arshad_iceman2
    Some of the incidents involving Rossi with Gibernau or Biaggi as they felt a personal hatred for each other.

    I thought you were inferring that Rossi is a Sporting Gentleman? I didn't think a true Sporting Gentleman could ever have a personal hatred for a fellow competitor.

    From SS_A9X, on Wed 20 Aug 10:40AM

  4. Some of the incidents involving Rossi with Gibernau or Biaggi as they felt a personal hatred for each other. But unlike Stoner at Laguna Rossi has never failed to congratulate someone if they beat him. For the record Elias beat him at Estoril, not Turkey. Rossi complained but did not moan and groan like Stoner. You can choose to remember Estoril but earlier in the season opener of 2006 at Jerez Elias punted Rossi off at the first corner and he ended 14th. After the race Rossi did not blame Elias for it. That is sportsmanship. What Stoner does is school boy whining

    From arshad_iceman2, on Wed 20 Aug 10:28AM

  5. bigmouth46, can't you and your mates accept the FACTS!
    Rossi may be good, but in no way is he perfect.

    From SS_A9X, on Wed 20 Aug 10:17AM

  6. timoates23912708, ss_a9x, you are incredible stupid, blind fools!!!

    From Big Mouth, on Wed 20 Aug 8:41AM

  7. timoates23912708 i applaud you for the following
    At Laguna Seca Rossi was off the track in his desperation to pass, in Turkey two years ago he complained when Toni Elias beat him, at Jerez in 2005 he punted off Sete Gibernau! Get real Rossi fans, your man is very good at the professional foul, just like Schumacher & Senna in F1 were.

    From SS_A9X, on Tue 19 Aug 7:37PM

  8. Never forget, Rossi has twice crashed into De Puniet this year. If he was half as good as some of you believe, then why hit him when he could have passed him safely?

    From SS_A9X, on Tue 19 Aug 7:15PM

  9. the STONE aussie has been 'spooked' by the doctor since laguna...i'll bet he'll never recover from it...and i won't be surprise he takes out somebody during the last remaining 6 races!!..the final dagger in the heart would be a win in PHILIP island....viva ROSSI!!!

    From jiggy, on Tue 19 Aug 2:30PM

  10. The only reason Stoner beat Rossi last year is the Bridgestone tyres, added to the inferiority of the M1 to the Desmodedici. At the beginning of this season, Rossi said he needed about 3 races to adjust to the Bridgestone tyres. Lo and behold, his prophesy came true. Rossi is by far the greatest rider of all time - as they say (GOAT). When anyone else wins, I cannot help but think that this is due to circumstances. By the way, Nicki Hayden is the worst World Champion ever. His 2 race wins at Laguna is because of prior knowledge of the track and his other win at Assen was de to Colin Edwards messing up the last corner. It really annoys me when Eurosport commentators eulogise about Hayden - the loser.

    From olawaleduyile@..., on Tue 19 Aug 10:19AM

  11. Mick Doohan say: To be first in a first corner,at a first lap- it's not what is all about. To be first at a last lap, in a last corner, last time across a finish line- is what's important. Rossi understand that extremely well and that set him apart than everybody else...lol

    From Emilija Jana, on Mon 18 Aug 6:08PM

  12. Stoner must to learn that he never, ever can not alow himself to depreciate Rossi, nor he nor anyone else! After all, Rossi is the best ever, the master of mind, extremely intelligent, this is his game! FORZA ROSSI!

    From Emilija Jana, on Mon 18 Aug 4:25PM

  13. rossi pressured the aussie into another mistake...the duke is a much better machine, but its the amazing riding skills and knowledge of rosi that makes the difference. could you imagine rossi sitting on that duke? with all his knowledge..wow! that would be worth watching!! yep hes the daddy alright!!!

    From gavin c, on Mon 18 Aug 2:40PM

  14. lets take the electronic aids off these motogp bikes and see how many times moaner stoner crashes then , hahaha

    From leighton, on Mon 18 Aug 2:31PM

  15. casey moaner can't blame rossi for this mistake.....unless it was rossi's shadow that made him crash!!!!!!!!!
    well done vale.....WHO'S THE DADDY!!!!!!!!!

    From streetbasshead, on Mon 18 Aug 1:06PM

  16. This is why the man has been champion so many times. All he did was applie the pressure and stoner folded. If you cast your mind back to his 125 days(stoner that is) he would always through it down the road.The 800 are not that forgiving.

    From LISA K, on Mon 18 Aug 12:58PM

  17. Go Rossi, what a race, Stoner needs to learn from a master like Rossi, his showmanship is awesome, he loves the fans, he never gives up, and is not up himself like Stoner who seems to do nothing but moan. Stoner your fans don't wanna hear your excuses.

    From Gem H, on Mon 18 Aug 12:32PM

  18. If you get married at that age you are bound to crash and burn!!!

    From mjpmclean, on Mon 18 Aug 11:52AM

  19. GOOO, ROssi. He will win this year WGP Champion

    From najnet2002, on Mon 18 Aug 11:28AM

  20. It is just fantastic to see the Rossi master doing what he does best. Let's not forget Stoner and all the other riders are brilliant. It's just that Number 46 is double brilliant.

    From shaun l, on Mon 18 Aug 11:07AM
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