Moto GP: The Portuguese Grand Prix (Part 3)
The feature heads to the dying stages of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Simoncelli did a Lorenzo of his own as he managed to gain a spot on track. Getting past Hayden, the Sand Carlo Honda was up to 3rd – Lonely race no more for Hayden, then?! Could the Ducati Marlboro fight back? However, there was no time to relax
for the American, as he had Dovizioso and Pedrosa breathing down his back.
Shortly afterwards, Dovizioso got past Hayden on the start finish straight. Meanwhile, Lorenzo was further flexing his muscles as he set the fastest time at 1 minute 38.044 seconds for lap 19. Owing to the rider’s dominance in the latter half of the race,
perhaps, now it would be safe to remind our readers that Lorenzo has won at Portugal for the last two years - Was it safe to consider a hat-trick on the cards for the Spaniard..?
While competition for the race lead seemed to fizz away a touch, the ‘next’ big battle on track was between Simoncelli and Dovizioso for the final podium position. However, Hayden and Pedrosa weren’t too far back from the action either to be written off
as potential candidates. The last few laps were vital, needless to say. It was a question of which rider was able to hold his nerves for the day.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo’s lead at the front was over 1.3 seconds. It was hard to say whether gulf between the two Yamahas was down to the Spaniard raising his game a couple of notch or the fact that Rossi had simply given up.
Randy De Puniet and Melandri caught up with the battling for 3rd as the race entered the 21st lap. It was a long train from 5th to 9th position; threatening to challenge the duo in 3rd and 4th
respectively.
The next lap saw another amendment to the track positions as Dovizioso got past Simoncelli on the start finish line. The story at the front was becoming rather predictable, as Lorenzo extended his lead up to 2.5 seconds. Rossi did not look to threaten for
the lead anymore.
Lap 23 saw Pedrosa dropping down to 8th position, and was further dropping back from the battle in front of him. It was reported that the injury he was carrying was an important factor behind his lack of competitiveness.
Simoncelli and Dovizioso continued their battle for the final step on the podium. Hayden wasn’t far behind and it still seemed to be a three horse race. The San Carlo Honda still led the other two as they began the 25th lap.
At the front, Lorenzo’s lead was almost 5 seconds.
3 laps to go…Barely one second separated the three riders battling for 3rd. Hayden was sitting back apparently; hoping the two riders in front of him would push each other wide for him to make a last minute lunge.
2 laps to go… Dovizioso got past on the start finish straight! He was provisionally 3rd while Hayden was getting more aggressive – the Ducati has been noted taking last lap lunges in the recent past.
Last lap… Hardly half a second separated the top 3 riders as they began the final lap of an eventful Grand Prix. Dovisiozo led Simoncelli into turn one – The mystery behind the final podium position was soon going to be unravelled.
Lorenzo took the chequered flag. Rossi took second. Dovizioso held onto his 3rd! – They were side by side at the finish line but the straightline speed of the Repsol Honda allowed Dovizioso to retain his spot. Hayden finished at the back of the
battle in 6th.
We had a fascinating penultimate round at Estoril. Lorenzo stamped his authority over Rossi to take his 9th win of the season.
Rossi had the early advantage in the race, pulling away at the front by lap 7. However, Lorenzo got past him at the half way mark, and never allowed Rossi to fight back to take his third consecutive win at Estoril.
Dovisiozo took the final podium position after battling with Simoncelli for much of the latter half of the race. Simoncelli finished in a career best 4th, and was just a few hundredths away from the podium.
Hayden finished 5th, and would be disappointed after battling for the lead in the first few laps. Randy De Puniet took 6th, followed by Edwards and Pedrosa in 7th and 8th.
Do join us for the final round at Valencia next week!
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