Dre’s MotoGP 2014 Grand Prix of San Marino Review

“The Return Of The King.”

Hey folks, Dre here again, with my thoughts on Round 13 of the MotoGP World Championship, as the crazy train went back to Italy, and the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, for the GP of San Marino!

In this race weekend, the EG Moto3 Alex’s went to war once again, Tito Rabat showed his class once again and turned the screw in the Moto2 Championship, and in the top class, Valentino Rossi pulled off the dream result for his home fans as Marc Marquez pushed his bike one step too far. All that and more, as I review the GP of San Marino!

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Valentino Rossi’s Dream Result

Man, does Assen 2013 seem like such a long time ago? 15 months to be precise. But as Matthew Birt of MCN quite rightly put it; “As the Rossi wins get rarer and rarer, you appreciate and crave them more and more”. And this isn’t just any rider, it’s the most beloved, adored and arguably greatest this sport has ever seen, who has only won two races in the last four years.

Rossi looked strong as a viable contender all weekend, and even qualified on the front row, a rarity for him these days. He got off to a decent start, and even fought off Marc Marquez’s early attack with one of the passes of the year down the back straight, and with Lorenzo struggling on a [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”Props to Jorge, he admitted as well that even on a Medium front, he wouldn’t be sure if he could beat Rossi.” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]hard compound front tyre[/fusion_tooltip], a mistake he admitted to post race, Rossi’s outstanding pace proved too much for Marquez, who over leaned on his bike and had a lowside, his first fatal race mistake since Mugello… LAST season. Somehow, [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”He owes Aleix Espargaro a pint.” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Marquez would carry on and finish in 15th[/fusion_tooltip] place to score 1 point.

Valentino scored his 107th Grand Prix victory, and became the first AND ONLY rider to score 5,000 career points, another truly incredible feat.

[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_counters_box columns=”4″ class=”” id=””]
[fusion_counter_box value=”307″ unit=”” unit_pos=”suffix” icon=”” border=”yes” color=”#1e73be” direction=”up”]Races[/fusion_counter_box]
[fusion_counter_box value=”107″ unit=”” unit_pos=”suffix” icon=”” border=”yes” color=”#1e73be” direction=”up”]Wins[/fusion_counter_box]
[fusion_counter_box value=”192″ unit=”” unit_pos=”suffix” icon=”” border=”yes” color=”#1e73be” direction=”up”]Podiums[/fusion_counter_box]
[fusion_counter_box value=”5012″ unit=”” unit_pos=”suffix” icon=”” border=”yes” color=”#eeee22″ direction=”up”]Career Points[/fusion_counter_box]
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And my goodness, the podium celebration… I’ve been watching this sport now for the better part of 15 years, and I have NEVER seen a track invasion or atmosphere in this sport, as to when Rossi stepped on the podium and the roar of the crowd gave me goosebumps. Simply mesmerizing.

He’s not the best rider in the world anymore, and he probably knows that, but I have to salute Valentino. He’s changed his riding style and adapted so much to combat the new threat in Marquez, and how he stays so passionate and motivated despite being 35 years old is incredible, and I don’t even care that the race was boring outside of the first 2 laps, this sport is better when Rossi is at the top. We owe him our thanks, because he’s done more for this sport than any rider ever has, and this was his reward for a season of hard work and faultless riding. Valentino, you are the man, and we owe you our thanks.

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Ducati’s British Form was no fluke!

I really do genuinely think that Ducati have found some form these last few rounds. Even Cal Crutchlow looked half decent!

But seriously, another brilliant, brilliant ride from Andrea Dovizioso to finish in 4th place, just a handful of bike lengths behind Factory Honda runner, Dani Pedrosa, and only five seconds off the win. Andrea Iannone continued his fantastic improvement this season by matching his career high yet again in 5th as well.

Is the Open Class finally starting to pay dividends for Ducati? With updates and a test coming up at Aragon, keep half an eye on them, they are getting closer and their qualifying pace is very helpful to them as well, Dovi with four straight front row starts in the second half of the season.

(I always said Dovi should have gotten that second Repsol Honda when they had three instead of Pedrosa…Dude is top class.)

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Tito Rabat finds another gear against Kallio

Remember after Indianapolis, I suggested that Rabat was looking vulnerable and under pressure from Kallio’s performances? WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Rabat took his third win in a row and he was a metronome out there, just lapping faster and faster towards the end of the race, and when he passed Kallio in sector 2, Kallio just didn’t have the tyre wear or the speed to keep up. It was another intelligent, hard fought, precision ride from Rabat, who seems to have gotten his head down and found another gear when it’s mattered most.

He now leads the Championship by 22 points, and with a home race in Aragon next, he could really hit Kallio where it hurts next time out. Also, great rides from Johann Zarco for 3rd, Maverick Vinales with another solid ride in 4th, and Thomas Luthi rounding off the Top 5. A shame for Ricard Cardus as well, was on track for an amazing Top 8 finish for Tech 3 before hitting the deck.

Also – If anyone finds Luis Salom’s form, please return it to Aragon, because 15th ain’t cutting it.

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Rins pips Marquez yet again as Estrella Dominate

I’m almost glad the Moto3 race wasn’t as thrill heavy as it has been in previous rounds, seriously, if we had another race like Brno or Silverstone, I think you’d see me on an operating table for heart failure!
I’m starting to get an hunch that the [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”The WORST team to type in a hurry on Twitter!” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Estrella Galicia O,O[/fusion_tooltip] team are starting to run riot on the rest of the Championship. The two Alex’s, Rins and Marquez were a cut above the rest finishing 3 and a half seconds clear of Championship leader, Jack Miller.

And over the line yet again, Rins narrowly beat Alex Marquez by just 0.042 of a second, meaning in the last two rounds, Alex Marquez has been literally half a tenth away from being Championship leader. Gnarly how close this season is getting.

And with Efren Vazquez 10th, and Romano Fenati failing to improve from 11th, it’s realistically become a three horse race between [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”195 Points” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Miller[/fusion_tooltip], [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”186 (-9)” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Marquez[/fusion_tooltip], and [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”175 (-20)” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Rins[/fusion_tooltip], and if it wasn’t for Alex Rins boneheaded early celebration in Brno a lap early, he’d have won three on the bounce and be carrying INSANE momentum going into Aragon, where I expect we’ll see another Spanish Civil War break out. And with a Pons [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_tooltip title=”Same for Marquez at Marc VDS next year…” placement=”top” trigger=”hover” class=”” id=””]Moto2 Kalex ride in the books for Rins[/fusion_tooltip] as well for 2015, what a time to be the 18 year old who so badly wants to avenge last year, where he missed the title by just a bike length.

So what did you make of Misano? Was this the last hurrah for Rossi! Send in your thoughts in the comments, as always, and thank you very much for reading![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]