MotoGP 2007 – Rossi back where he belongs

In what was one of this years best races, Valentino Rossi (pictured above) once again stamped his authority on the MotoGP championship to claw back lost ground to young Aussie Casey Stoner. Stoner riding the Ducati came in a credible 4^th to still hold a slender 9 point lead in the championship.

In doing so Rossi maintained his total dominance at the Mugello track inItaly, with the Yamaha M1 rider making it his 6^th win. 

It was an exciting race, with the lead changing many times during the early art of the race. It saw Loris Capirossi and Stoner (Ducati) battling it out with Spanish wonder kid Dani Pedrosa (Honda) dicing for the lead.

Unfortunately Capirossi could not maintain the pace and slipped to be seventh after this great tussle.

Then the ‘Doctor’ (Rossi) stormed to the lead at lap 15 to the cheers of the estimated 85,000 parochial crowd and was able to hold off challengers to score an emphatic win. He beat home Spain’s Dani Pedrosa who was second, with MotoGP veteran Alex Barros of
Brazil scoring a well deserved third.

It was an exciting tussle between veteran Barros and young ace Stoner in the closing stages of the race, but the wily Brazilian was able to counter the pressure placed on him to keep Stoner in 4^th.

Rizla Suzuki rider John Hopkins again showed his talents by finishing a solid 5^th in what is looking to be a strong year for the Suzuki factory team.

Chris Vermeulen scored more point this race with again showing his class by coming in eighth in front of more fancied opponents such as Marco Melandri 9^th and 2006 champion Nick Hayden who scored a 10^th, in what will surely be the end of his championship defence. Hayden now must resign himself to be unable to regain his crown. 

The top five finishers: 

1^st Valentino Rossi

2^nd Dani Pedrosa 3^rd Alex Barros4^th Casey Stoner

5^th John Hopkins

 Dave