Pedrosa pins it to silence the Rossi euphoria

For the first time in history, MotoGP has its eighth unique winner in as many races. The top class of racing has never known variety like it. And while attention has been drawn to the four first-time winners, at Misano it fell to Dani Pedrosa, MotoGP’s forgotten man, to ensure the run continued.

- Neil Morrison

THE RACE COULD – and quite possibly should – have been the homecoming fairytale for Rossi, which would not only have satisfied the 1,00,000-strong crowd that turned every grandstand into a shade of vibrant yellow, but also potentially reignited a late title push that he had recently been keen to play down.

Looking to adopt the approach that had worked so well at Jerez in late April, Rossi’s intention was to dictate the pace from the front, but Lorenzo had other ideas. Yet the fast-starting Spaniard’s attempts to break free were quickly thwarted, Rossi reeling him in within a lap. By the end of lap two Rossi was close enough to pounce. He did just that, his trademark ruthless edge totally in check, at turn 14, forcing Lorenzo to sit up. Tough but ultimately clean, the Italian was where he wanted to be. Now he only had to stave off his team-mate, who surely was his main obstacle to victory.

At first Lorenzo struggled to keep up, the Majorcan falling into no man’s land with a fiery Marquez a second behind. Both Viñales in fourth and Dovizioso fifth had started promisingly. But sixlaps in, it was clear – barring disaster - they would not be troubling the podium places. The top three were decided. Or so it appeared.

Climbing two places on lap one, Pedrosa – one of only two men to choose Michelin’s soft front option - soon made short work of first Dovizioso, then Viñales to sit fourth a quarter of the way into the race. Yet three seconds and two bikes still stood between him and the lead. A tall order for any man, let alone one who has only stood atop the podium just twice in twelve races.

But by lap eight Pedrosa was really motoring, showing exactly why each of the top three qualifiers had earmarked him as a podium threat on Saturday. Unluckily for those circulating ahead - and most in attendance - he was just getting started.