Rossi ‘Rains’ Supreme

Valentino Rossi has survived wind, debri, pouring rain and a huge moment to all but seal his championship with a stellar ride in a wind and rain soaked affected Indianapolis Moto Grand Prix. The Italian was declared the winner after the race was stopped 7 laps from home ahead of home town hero Nicky Hayden in his first podium of the year and fellow Fia Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo.

In a country where most races are cancelled in the event of rain the incredulous US fans were treated to some unbelievable racing from the MotoGP riders. With airfences being blown away and hospitality structures collapsing officials consulted the rule book for several minutes about the need to send the riders back out to continue the race before ultimately deciding to declare it with 7 laps remaining.

As the race started it was HRC rider Dani Pedrosa and Australian Casey Stoner who streaked out ahead of the field as Rossi dropped to fourth behind a hard charging Andrea Dovioso. Capirossi dropped to second last of the line but it was the JiR Team Scot Honda of Andrea Dovioso who took the biggest gamble early on. The rookie shocking all and sundry as he powered first past Rossi, then Hayden and finally Stoner to take the lead just five corners into the first lap.

Nicky Hayden and Dovisioso fought for the lead for several laps, the American clearly relishing the home crowd as he and Dovioso swapped position. Meanwhile Valentino Rossi was making his way steadily through the front pack and up to the tail of the two leaders, ultimately catching Hayden on lap eight. It was five laps later on lap 13 when Rossi finally managed to edge past Hayden and make a gap. The Italian wolrd championship leader survived a huge moment as the conditions became ever more trechorous, touching a white line and causing the Yamaha to fishtail wildly as his team looked on in horror. Fortunately the famous #46 rider was able to save the bike and maintain the lead.

As Rossi wound out to a comfortable lead at the front Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovioso battled for fifth and Jorge Lorenzo made ground on Hayden. Stoner was able to pass Andrea for fourth in the dying stages of the 20th lap and hold on until the red flag while for Lorenzo the red flag was a curse. The premature end spoiling his chances of stealing second from Hayden who’s first podium of the season comes in the week that he announced he was leaving Honda for Ducati in 2009.

Hayden’s compatriot Ben Spies also rode strongly to finish sixth in only his third MotoGP ahead of wet specialists Sylvain Guintoli and Chris Vermeulen in seventh and ninth. Dani Pedrosa was a comfortable eighth and Alex De Angelis recorded yet another top ten result for the San Carlo Gresini Honda Team.

Rossi needs only one point in Motegi to seal the championship ahead of Stoner with four rounds remaining.