Motorcycle Grand Prix follow one after another but are always different. At the San Marino Misano circuit, newly renamed Marco Simoncelli after the sadly missed Italian rider, the usual rankings were completely upturned at the race on 16 September, with the Yamaha Tech3 riders doing their utmost to remain among the leaders.
After a somewhat chaotic second start, which indirectly caused Pedrosa's fall a few minutes into the race, Dovizioso launched into the battle for the podium and, in the 24th lap, clinched 4th place. He then gradually moved up to Alvaro Bautista, passed him in the last turn and the two riders crossed the arrival line side by side. A photo finish was required to award 3rd place to Bautista, by a tiny lead of 0.003 seconds...
Cal Crutchlow suffered misfortune because, after a steady start to the race in pursuit of his team-mate, he unfortunately fell in the fifth lap and, with a twisted handlebar, couldn't start off again. The podium was therefore particularly unusual, Rossi and Bautista finishing 2nd and 3rd behind Lorenzo. 'It's a pity finishing so close to the podium in my national race,' regretted Dovizioso. 'The race was difficult from the beginning because I had a problem with the front and couldn't break hard and enter turns fast, so I had to alter my trajectories.' Securing 4th place in these conditions remains a splendid performance, which puts him in a good position in the Championship. All hopes are still alive, with the fourteenth round coming up on 30 September in Aragon, Spain.
Standings
01// Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha - 270 pts
02// Dani Pedrosa - Honda - 232 pts
03// Casey Stoner - Honda - 186 pts
04// Andrea Dovizioso - Yamaha Tech3 - 163 pts - Motul
05// Cal Crutchlow - Yamaha Tech3 - 122 pts - Motul
Photo credits: Stan Perec
