Melandri announces Kawasaki move ...
Live - German MotoGP ...
Hero Casillas puts Spain in semis ... />LATEST ACTION AS IT HAPPENS (ALL TIMES BST)
By Ian Hughes
Text 81111 (with "MOTOGP" as the first word) or use 606.
(Not all contributions can be used)
Lap 3: Jorge Lorenzo, eager to get himself a place on the podium is chasing bitter rival Pedrosa to try to take third place. Britain's James Toseland is back in eighth.
Lap 2: Rossi passes Pedrosa - but he is already three seconds behind Stoner. Alex de Angelis becomes the second casualty and is out of the race.
Lap 1: Randy de Puniet crashes out before the end of the opening lap. Rossi is desperate to get past Pedrosa and is all over the back of him. Meanwhile, Stoner is already putting distance between himself at the front and the chasing pack.
1300: And we're off! Stoner gets a stormer, Dani Pedrosa slips past Rossi.
1258: Argentine football legend Diego Maradona is in attendance today - and he gave Rossi a hug before the race. It's clear who he wants to win then.
1255: Yamaha's Jerry Burgess admits they are not as strong today as they would like to be, and are continuing to struggle in the final sector. "But we have Valentino, so you never know", he adds.
"This race promises pressure for all for those wanting a race win. Hoping for a good scrap."
Ian on 606
1247: Nicky Hayden has withdrawn from the race. Two cracked bones have made it too painful for him to compete today.
1245: Only 15 minutes to go now until we're off at Misano. Predictions please - text or use 606.
"I've got a bad feeling that Casey will be 5 seconds up the road within a few laps, he was so much faster in quali; it all depends on how the first lap or 2 go."
mpv2409 on 606
1240: Earlier in the day, Spaniard Alvaro Bautista, a former world champion at 125cc, won the 250cc race ahead of Japan's Yuki Takahashi with compatriot Hector Barbera in third.
And Britain's Bradley Smith came a superb second in the 125cc race behind Hungary's Gabor Talmacsi, with Italy's Simone Corsi third.
1230: The track at San Marino is only 12km from Rossi's house. I guess that meant a lie-in and an amble to work for The Doctor.
1220: Afternoon all. Ready for another round of what is proving to be a superb MotoGP season? I'm hardly sticking my neck out here, but I'm expecting another titanic battle between Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi.
Stoner starts on pole for the seventh consecutive time, despite fracturing his hand in practice and riding with it bandaged in qualifying.
But it will be interesting to see how he copes with the injury in race conditions, and with championship leader Rossi hot on his back wheel.
Rossi was half a second off the Australian's pace in qualifying and starts from second on the grid - but he has won the last two grands prix from that position.
The Italian also has the advantage of a 50-point championship lead over Stoner, so a podium finish - rather than a win - may be his goal.
(BBC)
<< Back