Casey Stoner rocketed to his third win to the season at Montmelò, and his 26th in MotoGP, in a race that dare we say became a snore fest and processional, for the almost non exsistent action on track and the fact that Marco Simoncelli had a bad start, when everyone expected him to mix it up a little with the front runners.
The Australian who was on hard tires took the lead from Jorge Lorenzo on lap two and from there eased away putting deep space between himself and Lorenzo.
The Yamaha rider tried his best to match the Australian’s pace but unable to catch him, even when white flags were waved signaling that riders could switch bikes, because there some spotty rain on track which in the end never really showed up enough to disturb anyone, so Lorenzo settled in for second and was never contested for his spot.
Ben Spies turned around his somewhat lucklustre season so far with his third place podium and he too was never contested for the spot even though Andrea Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi tried their best to make up the gap difference, but never getting close enough to actually try for a pass.
For the third time this season Andrea Dovizioso beat Rossi and and take the fourth position, but this time he didn’t have to fight for his spot because Rossi was more than two seconds away from Italian Honda Repsol Honda rider.
Marco Simoncelli had a terrible start and ended up in the middle of the scrawny field, but he managed to get past Nicky Hayden and take sixth with unexpected grip problems and unable to replicate the previous pace that he had in practice and qualifying.
Seventh went to Yamaha’s Tech3 lone rider Cal Crutchlow after taking the spot from Nicky Hayden on lap 10.
Probably the most interesting thing that happened this Sunday in MotoGP, was Colin Edwards crazy idea to start the race and not break his 141 race starts record.
The Amercian underwent surgery on Saturday to have a plate and seven screws inserted to repair his fractured collarbone, but turned up at the track early this morning wanting to ride at least a lap, but obviously the Medical Commission declared him unfit.
Nicky Hayden finished in eighth, Loris Capirossi in ninth after battling with four riders and Karel Abraham closed out the top ten.
Only thirteen riders took it to the chequered flag after Hiroshi Aoyama took out himself and Randy de Puniet.
MotoGP Catalunya race results:01- Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 25 laps in 43’19.
77902- Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 2.
40303- Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 4.
29104- Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – + 5.
25505- Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 7.
37106- Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 11.
83107- Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 26.
48308- Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 33.
24309- Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 43.
09210- Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 43.
11311- Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 44.
22412- Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – + 45.
23913- Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – + 58.
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