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Valentino Rossi appears to reach a Grand Prix milestone with every victory added to his legacy, and the Italian reached a century of World Championship wins with his latest triumph on Saturday in Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had less of a battle on his hands than two weeks prior in Barcelona, and was in better condition to give an animated celebration –this time an unraveling of a celebratory banner and a photo with an ‘old school†camera.
“Itâ€s a fantastic achievement. 100 victories is a great number. Thanks to all the guys who have helped me to reach this number –my teams over the past ten years, Jeremy Burgess and especially all my close friends and family for giving me motivation. We hope to win some other races though!†said Rossi after stepping onto the podium with a custom made ‘100†flag.
On the race itself, which he led for almost the entirety after starting from pole, the reigning World Champion commented that: “I had a good feeling and knew that I was very fast on two or three points in the track, so I tried to get out to the front as soon as possible and impose my rhythm. It was a perfect race because any mistakes would have a high cost. I knew that Lorenzo was very strong, so I tried to take an advantage.
“Itâ€s been two races that the bike has had a good setting. This year the bike is fantastic, and we hope to continue in this way.â€
Rossi will have little time to savour the win, as the MotoGP World Championship takes a swift transatlantic flight to Laguna Seca, California for next weekendâ€s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The 30-year old was a winner there in 2008, but knows that things wonâ€t be easy stateside.
“Last year was great, but it will be hard with just 3-4 days of rest. We are in a good moment, and I hope to have a good race like last year.â€
Valentino Rossi won his 100th Grand Prix, took his second triumph in succession and became the undisputed leader of the MotoGP World Championship with a stellar performance at the Alice TT Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had a peerless performance from pole position and, unlike two weeks previous in Barcelona, needed no ‘Hail Mary†last lap at the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.
A vintage Rossi performance was celebrated with his unraveling a backdrop and posing for a classic photo with antiquated cameras, the Italianâ€s latest post-race show with his faithful fan club.
Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was once again forced to settle for second place, his third on the bounce. The Spaniard got off to a bad start from third on the grid and, although he was able to fight back up to the front, could not provide Rossi with the same challenge that he had done last time out.
Ducati Marlboroâ€s Casey Stoner completed the podium with a solitary ride chasing Lorenzo. The Australian now trails Rossi and his Spanish rival in the overall standings after the trio had been level on points heading in to the Assen race.
Colin Edwards equaled his best result of the year with fourth place, at the head of an enthralling battle between the ‘best of the restâ€. Rizla Suzukiâ€s Chris Vermeulen and Edwards†Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate James Toseland were also in the top six with their best finishes of the season to date.
Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso had been in with a shout at the rostrum, but both took tumbles before the race took its full shape. There was also a late fall for Pramac Racingâ€s Mika Kallio when the Finn was challenging for sixth on the final lap.
Toni ElÃas was penalised twenty seconds for using the run-off area illegally on the final lap.
Valentino Rossi celebrates Assen victoryValentino Rossi reached yet another milestone in his astounding career as he claimed his 100th victory at grand prix level with a dominant performance in the Assen TT.
The reigning champion led a Yamaha one-two for the second successive race, but unlike Catalunya two weeks ago, no late heroics were required to beat his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, for Rossi had this race totally under control from very early on.
Dani Pedrosa had jumped into the lead from second place at the start, and although Rossi repassed the Honda further around the opening lap, Casey Stoner slipped his Ducati past them both as they diced.
Stoner's time up front was brief, though, as he ran just wide enough for Rossi to sneak ahead at the first corner next time around. Once ahead, there was no stopping Rossi, who soon started disappearing into the distance and duly secured victory and took sole possession of the championship lead.
Having lost several positions at the start, Lorenzo soon moved up to second, but could not catch Rossi, while Stoner had no answer to the Yamahas' pace and finished over 20s adrift in third.
Pedrosa stayed with Stoner in fourth until crashing out at the first corner after four laps. Honda's frustration then doubled six laps later as Andrea Dovizioso went out at the same spot while also chasing Stoner.
Colin Edwards therefore ended up in fourth for Tech 3 Yamaha, after passing fast-starter Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki), who produced his best performance of 2009 so far to take fifth.
The muscular six-bike battle for sixth was the highlight of a largely uneventful race. James Toseland equalled his career best result by emerging on top of this incredible dice, but only after Mika Kallio crashed his Pramac Ducati on the final lap when seemingly on course for sixth.
Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) recovered from several incidents to take seventh, followed by the charging Toni Elias (Gresini Honda), Nicky Hayden (Ducati) - who had earlier run as high as seventh - and Loris Capirossi (Suzuki), who never got back into contention after losing ground on the first lap.
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 42m14.611s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 5.368s
3. Casey Stoner Ducati + 23.113s
4. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha + 29.114s
5. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki + 33.605s
6. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha + 39.347s
7. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda + 39.543s
8. Toni Elias Gresini Honda + 39.774s
9. Nicky Hayden Ducati + 39.823s
10. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 40.673s
11. Alex de Angelis Gresini Honda + 46.100s
12. Marco Melandri Hayate Kawasaki + 57.777s
13. Sete Gibernau Hernando Ducati +1m05.366s
14. Niccolo Canepa Pramac Ducati +1m09.897s
15. Yuki Takahashi Scot Honda +1m09.930s
16. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Honda +1m25.099s
Retirements:
Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 25 laps
Andrea Dovizioso Honda 10 laps
Dani Pedrosa Honda 4 laps
Valentino Rossi appears to reach a Grand Prix milestone with every victory added to his legacy, and the Italian reached a century of World Championship wins with his latest triumph on Saturday in Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had less of a battle on his hands than two weeks prior in Barcelona, and was in better condition to give an animated celebration –this time an unraveling of a celebratory banner and a photo with an ‘old school†camera.
“Itâ€s a fantastic achievement. 100 victories is a great number. Thanks to all the guys who have helped me to reach this number –my teams over the past ten years, Jeremy Burgess and especially all my close friends and family for giving me motivation. We hope to win some other races though!†said Rossi after stepping onto the podium with a custom made ‘100†flag.
On the race itself, which he led for almost the entirety after starting from pole, the reigning World Champion commented that: “I had a good feeling and knew that I was very fast on two or three points in the track, so I tried to get out to the front as soon as possible and impose my rhythm. It was a perfect race because any mistakes would have a high cost. I knew that Lorenzo was very strong, so I tried to take an advantage.
“Itâ€s been two races that the bike has had a good setting. This year the bike is fantastic, and we hope to continue in this way.â€
Rossi will have little time to savour the win, as the MotoGP World Championship takes a swift transatlantic flight to Laguna Seca, California for next weekendâ€s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The 30-year old was a winner there in 2008, but knows that things wonâ€t be easy stateside.
“Last year was great, but it will be hard with just 3-4 days of rest. We are in a good moment, and I hope to have a good race like last year.â€
Valentino Rossi won his 100th Grand Prix, took his second triumph in succession and became the undisputed leader of the MotoGP World Championship with a stellar performance at the Alice TT Assen. The Fiat Yamaha rider had a peerless performance from pole position and, unlike two weeks previous in Barcelona, needed no ‘Hail Mary†last lap at the Cathedral of Motorcycle Racing.
A vintage Rossi performance was celebrated with his unraveling a backdrop and posing for a classic photo with antiquated cameras, the Italianâ€s latest post-race show with his faithful fan club.
Teammate Jorge Lorenzo was once again forced to settle for second place, his third on the bounce. The Spaniard got off to a bad start from third on the grid and, although he was able to fight back up to the front, could not provide Rossi with the same challenge that he had done last time out.
Ducati Marlboroâ€s Casey Stoner completed the podium with a solitary ride chasing Lorenzo. The Australian now trails Rossi and his Spanish rival in the overall standings after the trio had been level on points heading in to the Assen race.
Colin Edwards equaled his best result of the year with fourth place, at the head of an enthralling battle between the ‘best of the restâ€. Rizla Suzukiâ€s Chris Vermeulen and Edwards†Monster Yamaha Tech 3 teammate James Toseland were also in the top six with their best finishes of the season to date.
Repsol Honda riders Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso had been in with a shout at the rostrum, but both took tumbles before the race took its full shape. There was also a late fall for Pramac Racingâ€s Mika Kallio when the Finn was challenging for sixth on the final lap.
Toni ElÃas was penalised twenty seconds for using the run-off area illegally on the final lap.
Valentino Rossi celebrates Assen victoryValentino Rossi reached yet another milestone in his astounding career as he claimed his 100th victory at grand prix level with a dominant performance in the Assen TT.
The reigning champion led a Yamaha one-two for the second successive race, but unlike Catalunya two weeks ago, no late heroics were required to beat his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, for Rossi had this race totally under control from very early on.
Dani Pedrosa had jumped into the lead from second place at the start, and although Rossi repassed the Honda further around the opening lap, Casey Stoner slipped his Ducati past them both as they diced.
Stoner's time up front was brief, though, as he ran just wide enough for Rossi to sneak ahead at the first corner next time around. Once ahead, there was no stopping Rossi, who soon started disappearing into the distance and duly secured victory and took sole possession of the championship lead.
Having lost several positions at the start, Lorenzo soon moved up to second, but could not catch Rossi, while Stoner had no answer to the Yamahas' pace and finished over 20s adrift in third.
Pedrosa stayed with Stoner in fourth until crashing out at the first corner after four laps. Honda's frustration then doubled six laps later as Andrea Dovizioso went out at the same spot while also chasing Stoner.
Colin Edwards therefore ended up in fourth for Tech 3 Yamaha, after passing fast-starter Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki), who produced his best performance of 2009 so far to take fifth.
The muscular six-bike battle for sixth was the highlight of a largely uneventful race. James Toseland equalled his career best result by emerging on top of this incredible dice, but only after Mika Kallio crashed his Pramac Ducati on the final lap when seemingly on course for sixth.
Randy de Puniet (LCR Honda) recovered from several incidents to take seventh, followed by the charging Toni Elias (Gresini Honda), Nicky Hayden (Ducati) - who had earlier run as high as seventh - and Loris Capirossi (Suzuki), who never got back into contention after losing ground on the first lap.
Pos Rider Bike Time/Gap
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 42m14.611s
2. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha + 5.368s
3. Casey Stoner Ducati + 23.113s
4. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha + 29.114s
5. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki + 33.605s
6. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha + 39.347s
7. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda + 39.543s
8. Toni Elias Gresini Honda + 39.774s
9. Nicky Hayden Ducati + 39.823s
10. Loris Capirossi Suzuki + 40.673s
11. Alex de Angelis Gresini Honda + 46.100s
12. Marco Melandri Hayate Kawasaki + 57.777s
13. Sete Gibernau Hernando Ducati +1m05.366s
14. Niccolo Canepa Pramac Ducati +1m09.897s
15. Yuki Takahashi Scot Honda +1m09.930s
16. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Honda +1m25.099s
Retirements:
Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 25 laps
Andrea Dovizioso Honda 10 laps
Dani Pedrosa Honda 4 laps
Egos; everyone got one