Rossi & Lorenzo 1-2 in Epic Cataluña MotoGP
June 13, 2009 by admin
Filed under Industry News
Fiat Yamaha superstars Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo dominated an incredible Catalan Grand Prix to take a momentous 1-2 victory on Sunday, June 14. Aboard their matching YZR-M1s, the pair outdistanced championship rival Casey Stoner before delivering a show-stopping run to the flag at Montmeló, Spain in front of a packed house. But it was Rossi, the reigning world champion and cunning MotoGP veteran, who finally emerged as the winner, taking a memorable 99th career GP victory after a stunning last-corner pass on his 22-year-old teammate. The race was so close that less than 0.1 sec. separated the pair after 25 thrilling laps. With Stoner finishing third, the threesome now have 106 points apiece after six races.
Lorenzo and Rossi qualified 1-2, and Lorenzo held the advantage at the start to take the early lead. But Rossi made his first move at the end of the straight on lap four and passed Lorenzo into turn one. The top three remained close until four laps later, when the Yamaha pair began to pull away from Stoner and leave the rest of the field in its wake. With just a couple of tenths between them there was no margin for error but at the end of the back straight on lap 13 Lorenzo saw a way through and passed his teammate for the lead. They continued wheel to wheel until Rossi made another move 10 laps later, but the race still wasn’t over and there were several more nail-biting lead changes before Lorenzo appeared to have it sewn up half way through the final lap. However Rossi, an eight-time world champion, had one more card to play on Lorenzo and edged his machine through in an inch-perfect last-corner pass.
“As we say in Italy, ‘Mamma Mia!’” joked Rossi after the win. “I think I can honestly say that this was one of the best and hardest wins of my career. Maybe Laguna last year was more important but this was a great, great victory because it went to the very last corner and it’s a long time since that has happened. I have dreamed about that move for the last two weeks and today it worked and I am so happy to have this 99th win.” Lorenzo added, “This was an incredible battle today and a brilliant show for everyone, and I am happy to have been a part of it. Today Valentino was maybe a little bit cleverer or a little bit braver than me at the very end and he was able to beat me. I am proud however because I am young and I still have a lot to learn in this class.”
2009 MotoGP Points 6/14/09
Position 1 – Valentino Rossi – Yamaha – 106
Position 2 – Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha – 106
Position 3 – Casey Stoner – 106
Position 4 – Andrea Dovizioso – 69
Position 5 – Dani Pedrosa – 67
