U.S.A. 2009
AFTER THE RACING DRAMA OF LAST YEAR'S RACE, THIS WAS JUST AS DRAMATIC BUT FOR REASONS OVER WHICH THE RIDERS TENDED TO HAVE LITTLE CONTROL!
FIRSTLY, TYRES. LAST YEAR, THE TYRES WERE OF A COMPOUND CONSTRUCTION TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FACT THAT THIS TRACK IS MAINLY LEFT-HAND TURNS WITH VERY LITTLE WEAR ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE SO HARD COMPOUND LEFT AND SOFT COMPOUND RIGHT.
THIS YEAR, BRIDGESTONE ARE THE SOLE TYRE SUPPLIER AND ONLY PRODUCED A SINGLE COMPOUND HARD TYRE. THIS MEANT THAT, AT THE FEW RIGHT-HAND TURNS, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TYRE HAD LOST TEMPERATURE AND THE GRIP LEVEL DROPPED AS WELL LEADING TO SOME SPECTACULAR CRASHES IN QUALIFYING THAT ALMOST PUT JORGE LORENZO AND CASEY STONER OUT OF THE RACE.
SECONDLY, THE CRASHES. JORGE WAS THE MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT CASEY IS STILL SUFFERING FROM THE MYSTERY ILLNESS THAT LEAVES HIM SICK AND DRAINED BUT THEY BOTH PUT IN COURAGEOUS RIDES ON THE SUNDAY. MANY OTHER RIDERS ALSO HAD CRASHES DURING QUALIFYING AND/OR THE RACE.
JORGE SUFFERED A DETACHED COLLARBONE AND BROKEN TOE WHILST CASEY IS TO STAY ON IN THE U.S.A. TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS SO THAT IT CAN BE TREATED.
THE RACE ITSELF SAW DANI PEDROSA, 4TH ON THE GRID, STREAK TO THE LEAD BY THE FIRST TURN AND WAS NEVER HEADED AGAIN DESPITE SLOWING DOWN JUST A LITTLE TOO MUCH ON THE LAST LAP AND GIVING VALENTINO ROSSI JUST THE OUTSIDE CHANCE OF SNEAKING VICTORY ON THE LINE. HE HAS SUFFERED FROM INJURIES ALL SEASON SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE HIM AND HONDA TAKE THEIR FIRST WIN FOR OVER A YEAR.
ANOTHER MAJOR PLUS FROM THIS RACE WAS TO SEE NICKY HAYDEN BACK TO SOMETHING LIKE HIS BEST FORM WITH A 5TH PLACE FINISH. IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS FINALLY GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE DUCATI.
STARTING GRID
| | | | | |
| 1.
|
Jorge Lorenzo
|
| 2.
|
Valentino Rossi
|
| 3.
|
Casey Stoner
|
| 4.
|
Dani Pedrosa
|
| 5.
|
Andrea Dovizioso
|
| 6.
|
Tony Elias
|
| 7.
|
Colin Edwards
|
| 8.
|
Nicky Hayden
|
| 9.
|
Chris Vermeulen
|
| 10.
|
Loris Capirossi
|
| 11.
|
Marco Melandri
|
| 12.
|
Alex de Angelis
|
| 13.
|
Sete Gibernau
|
| 14.
|
Randy de Puniet
|
| 15.
|
James Toseland
|
| 16.
|
Niccolo Canepa
|
| 17.
|
Gabor Talmasci
|
RESULT
| |
| 1.
|
Dani Pedrosa
|
| 2.
|
Valentino Rossi
|
| 3.
|
Jorge Lorenzo
|
| 4.
|
Casey Stoner
|
| 5.
|
Nicky Hayden
|
| 6.
|
Tony Elias
|
| 7.
|
Colin Edwards
|
| 8.
|
Chris Vermeulen
|
| 9.
|
Randy de Puniet
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Riders :
| |
| Valentino Rossi
|
151
|
| Jorge Lorenzo
|
142
|
| Casey Stoner
|
135
|
| Dani Pedrosa
|
92
|
| Colin Edwards
|
76
|
| Andrea Dovizioso
|
69
|
| Marco Melandri
|
61
|
| =Chris Vermeulen
|
61
|
| Randy de Puniet
|
58
|
Constructors :
|
| Yamaha
|
185
|
| Ducati
|
135
|
| Honda
|
123
|
| Suzuki
|
79
|
| Kawasaki
|
61
|
Race Results posted by
David Little
5th July 2009
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