Our recent discussion here over the rider vs technology factor in motorcycle racing was set into perspective by the riding of both Valentino Rossi and Mat Mladin this past weekend. Both the MotoGP race at Mugello and the AMA Superbike races at Road America gave us the best racing we’ve had so far this season.
In Italy, Yamaha, Ducati and Honda all had their best setups on the track and the riders took full advantage of the machines as they battled for the lead. Rossi made his way to the front, went a little wide in one turn and immediately found himself in 5th place. Gibernau, Melandri then Capirossi along with Hayden all gave a great show, Gibernau finally fading while the trio of Rossi, Capirossi and Hayden raced as close and tight as in any race we’ve seen. Just superb racing all the way through. Give yourself this test, if you saw that race and didn’t enjoy it, you simply don’t enjoy racing, it doesn’t get much better.
Here in the U.S., Mat Mladin broke Ben Spies’ six race streak on Saturday with a win. On Sunday, Mladin had an absolutely awful start falling to somewhere around 12th position. He picked his way through the pack to get to third before an oil spill caused a red flag. On the restart he again slid back a ways but began an amazing charge. Spies was riding his usual great race out front but Mladin started riding at a level above everyone, setting a new track record during the race and then lowering the record several more times in successive laps! He finally passed Spies and it was all over. Winning both races puts Mladin second in the points race for the championship behind Spies.
In both cases, a mental shift took place. Mladin needed to come to grips with Spies who was beating everyone quite handily. Digging down he came back to show why he has the number one plate on his bike. The AMA Superbike season just became a lot more exciting.
For Rossi, the Ferrari F1 talk may have distracted him a bit and his early season riding was just not what it should have been along with setup problems that plagued the champ. He said last week that he needed to win in Italy. He closed the door on the F1 speculation and got down to work. No matter how good you are, MotoGP is not a place for distraction, there are far too many excellent riders waiting for you to stumble. On Sunday, Rossi put it all together when he needed to because Capirossi and Hayden were riding extremely well, Rossi didn’t win by default, he rode to the front and deserved to be there.
Excellent racing, great riders, can’t wait for more of the same.
aaron says
hey, hayden finally earned my respect! he’s coming good now, that third at mugello was a far greater drive than the win at laguna seca.
funny, how rossi says traction control makes the rider less important, then finishes 30 seconds up on his teammate…again.
my prime bike racing moment from the last while? barros sliding backwards (on his stomach) in front of an exploding bike – the way his head snapped up, and he got to his feet just in time to leap the flaming mass – wow. better than any stunt in the matrix 2 or 3…..
RATTSBIKES says
I have to agree great racing this weekend, and thats what it is all about, but I question again, what do we really know aboutRrossi’s or Haydens, Or Gibernaues set up on thier bikes? It is never really revealed is it?
RATS
Earl says
It has been reported that Rossi is using last year’s chassis to cure the tyre-chatter problems caused by the excessive stiffness of the new chassis. It’s first return was at Mugello. Great race, tho, and wild highside from Stoner.
Jeff Ritter says
I can’t say that simply because mladin and spies are fighting for wins that the AMA series has gotten exciting. It’s still a one bike show and now two man show. same team though. Boring. Now motogp, that’s a different story, that is exciting racing. No longer can you tell who is going to win the race the week before the race. No, those guys are actually racing and people are giving Rossi a run for his money. Bring on more MotoGP.
KRocket says
I would have to say that Rossi has just notched up a win that puts him in another class. Dropping those 5 places with what, 8 laps to go? I figured he had just extended his bad luck to yet another race. But he worked his way back to first and won. That was amazing racing and will be a new benchmark for me to compare any future track related battles. Rossi rocks, period.