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Monday, June 15, 2009 19:55 IST

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon. Worse, it was not a Formula One weekend. Frankly speaking, compared to Formula One, Moto GP isn't that spectacular or intriguing or dramatic. I am not talking about the action on the race track. It's just that the F1 event is better packaged than Moto GP. There are famous teams, personalities... in fact many F1 drivers are household names. Also, the politics in F1 is so gripping that even during a non-race weekend, there is plenty to write about.

And yet, I can't help but write about Moto GP. The Grand Prix of Catalunya on Sunday was perhaps the best race I have ever seen till date. Yes, there have been close races in Formula One and Moto GP but as far as I can remember, never has a race scaled the heights of daredevilry, audacity, brilliance, speed and till the very last moment... uncertainty.

The show put up by the two Fiat-Yamaha riders... Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo was breathtaking to say the least. From the green lights to the chequered flag, it was wheel to wheel action between the two Yamahas. Ducati's Casey Stoner had threatened to make it a three-way affair. But the Yamahas were too good for Stoner who somehow managed to finish the race in third place.

The Yamahas of Lorenzo and Rossi that qualified 1 and 2 respectively, stuck to their Saturday standings in the starting laps. However, Rossi soon made a move on Lorenzo and it seemed that the Italian genius would run away with the race. After all, Rossi has a reputation of defending his lead. However, not only did Lorenzo stay with Rossi but always made the multiple world champion know that he had the pace and the will to overtake as well. The two Yamahas were in a world of their own as they pulled away from Stoner's struggling Ducati.

From then on it was battle royal between the veteran Rossi and the young Lorenzo. Though Rossi maintained his lead, it was apparent that Lorenzo was waiting for the right moment to outbrake his more famous colleague on the start finish straight. Lorenzo took the lead for a brief period only to be immediately overtaken by Rossi.

It was apt that Lorenzo chose the last lap to overtake Rossi again and raise the expectations of the partisan Barcelona crowd. Just before the race, Lorenzo was been presented a special FC Barcelona helmet by the club's president to commemorate their victory in Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Cup.

At the start of the last lap, Lorenzo took the lead and threw an audacious challenge at Rossi... Catch me if you can!

Rossi tried desperately to regain his lead... on the 4^th corner his desperation had reached such a level, that he dived inside Lorenzo on the slow right. However, he was never going to hold the lead as in the next moment he ran wide and Lorenzo promptly took the lead.

Rossi tried every move he could... at the corners and the straights. But Lorenzo hung on to his lead heroically... shutting the door on Rossi.

It now seemed a mere formality for Lorenzo to win as the duo reached the final corner. The thrills that the race had produced till that point had been really exciting and I had already rated the race as one of the best in recent times.

Just when it seemed all over came Rossi's bolt from the blue. On the final right corner, not many, including Lorenzo expected Rossi to dive on the inside and snatch the lead. May be, Lorenzo took it slightly easy.

Who could blame him? With track temperatures in mid 50s and after an intense 25 laps battle against the best rider in the history of Moto GP, anyone would have got mentally and physically drained.

Unfortunately, for Lorenzo, he was fighting against the only rider who could have executed such a move. Rossi dived on the inside and before Lorenzo realized what was happening shot into the lead and dashed Lorenzo's hopes of regaining the lead.

I was jumping out of my seat, just like Rossi's team engineers and mechanics. Rossi won the race by 9 thousands of a second... more importantly the two won hearts of millions of fans.

I had never experienced such bliss before. Perhaps the most telling comment was made by couple of Rossi fans who ran on to the tracks, stopped Rossi while he was doing his slowdown lap and bowed before him... for having made their lives worth it by riding like a god in this race.

I felt the same and bowed before Rossi and Lorenzo for the remarkable race. Just watching the race on TV has made my life worth it.

4 comments

Hmmm, the emotions we all felt at the final few laps of that race are universal, it seems. I too was jumping up and down and screaming and clapping like a mad woman (the recliner tipped over, unfortunately). My patients were looking at me like, "Was I wrong to trust my life on her?"

Fantastic summary.

Did the race justice by highlighting its effect. Sharing the spirit of being fortunate enough to take in this great event.

Allow me to point out a couple of mistakes, for I think it is important to get the facts right, for the reader does not bother to recheck before taking these in as beliefs. The first time Lorenzo passed Rossi was not on the last lap as is mentioned currently. Rossi overtook Lorenzo and led for a long time. Then Lorenzo made a great pass and led for some time before the great man again took the lead with some four laps to go. And as I remember it, there was time for one more failed Lorenzo attempt before that explosive last lap arrived.

Secondly, it was no helmet presentation for commemoration of the treble (for it was not a double). President Laporta was on the grid beside Lorenzo before the start and even managed to flash Lorenzo's Barca helmet for the cameras. But Lorenzo had presented the Barca livery (besides the helmet, it was on his suit, bike) on Thursday itself. Being a big supporter, it was more of Lorenzo's desire to wear the club colours at the race close to Barcelona. The club supported the move and had sent two VPs when the livery was revealed.

Dear Mr Montoya

Thanks a lot for your comment. I shall be looking into it asap.

Best regards

Dhananjay

What a wonderful summary of the race — and a great tribute to the skill and daring of both Rossi and Lorenzo. This is indeed a "golden age" for motorcycle racing. I felt privileged to have seen it.

Dear Mr Robinson

Thank you for your comment. I am glad that you also saw the race. It was indeed a rare privilege to have witnessed it. And eys you are right, it is a golden age of motorcycling.

Thanks and best regards

Dhananjay

Good to see an Indian writing about MotoGP. I really welcome it. Yes, that race was one of the best in Rossi's amazing career, but you must also watch the Laguna Seca 2008 race. He taught Stoner what is racing :)

Keep it up and write more (am bookmarking your blog).

Hi

Thanks a lot for your comment. I will keep on writing on Moto GP as well.

Thanks and best regards

Dhananjay