Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, appear fantastic to end the domination of the Yamaha rider, Jorge Lorenzo, on the Estoril circuit, Portugal. In a thrilling race for 28 laps on Sunday (01/05/2011), kompatriotnya beat Spaniard Pedrosa was to become champion, as well as grabbed victory in the MotoGP 2011 season premiere this.
Behind the Spanish duo was teammate Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, who closed to within 7.658 seconds. Meanwhile, Valentino Rossi had to accept bitter towards the finish because before crossing the line (the finish) overtaken by other Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, who continue to stick it during the race.
Bad outcome must be accepted Gresini Honda rider, Marco Simoncelli, who failed to finish the race. Start from the position of the two and become one of the favorites to win, this spiky-haired rider just had an accident on the first lap in fifth bend so pupuslah his ambition to win.
With the results of this third series, then Lorenzo stay on top of the standings with 65 points total, the results of one win and two runner-ups, followed by Pedrosa by 61 points. Three positions occupied by Stoner, who was the winner of the series premiered in Qatar, with a collection of 41 points.
The road race
When the red light signal race starts, Lorenzo immediately skyrocketed. This world champion, who occupy pole at Estoril at the same time establishing their dominance by winning four poles in the last four seasons, followed by Repsol Honda duo Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner. Rossi did a great start because he immediately leapt to fourth after starting from ninth position.
However, misfortune struck Simoncelli because he fell before the fight took place tight. Being in the top three and is trying menggeber bike, this spiky-haired rider bounce off and fall on the fifth corner, now will turn to the left, so he failed to continue the race. Apparently, the Estoril circuit into an arena that brings bad luck for the Italian rider because since free practice, qualifying, and race he's always had an accident.
Entering the fourth lap, has begun a gap between the two leading rider, that Lorenzo-Pedrosa, with Rossi-Stoner and Dovizioso. Lorenzo and Pedrosa, who competing gaining pole position, winning more than two seconds over Stoner, who "not disturbed" in the top three. While Rossi is more than 4 seconds adrift of pole position.
On the seventh lap, Lorenzo and Pedrosa getting away from the pursuit of his opponents. Spanish duo seems to fight alone to be the best because they only differ less than 0.1 seconds. While Stoner, who is behind them, left more than 2 seconds. While in the third group, who fight the top four, there was tight battle between Rossi, Dovizioso and Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards.
Entering the 12th lap, Rossi was getting farther behind than three competitors in front of him. "The Doctor" for more than eight seconds adrift with Lorenzo who continue to receive pressure from Pedrosa, who until lap this makes three times the fastest lap. Overall, there was no change in composition because all the riders who still appear able to maintain its position.
It's just that, competition becomes increasingly monotonous because it only involves Lorenzo and Pedrosa. In fact, during the race six laps remaining, they increasingly far left adrift Stoner more than 5 seconds, let alone with Rossi, who increasingly left with a gap of more than 13 seconds.
Pedrosa hard struggle to pursue a fruitful Lorenzo on lap 24. After the maximum menggeber bike on the track straight and hard braking, he managed to take from the inside when cornering to the right so that they can take over the course of the race. One lap later, Pedrosa, the total conducted six fastest laps, getting away with more than 0.4 second difference on Lorenzo, who in the past three seasons always dominated the Grand Prix of Portugal (both qualifying and race).
This success also shows that the interference experienced by Pedrosa's shoulder is recovering. In fact, he was in the process of post-operative healing early April to remove a metal plate in his collarbone, which is suspected to be causing him numb during the race (in Qatar and Jerez).
Results must be experienced bitter Rossi, who again have to finish in fifth position. It is in a good position to improve the outcome along with Ducati this season, he actually "slip" when it will touch the finish line because disalip Dovizioso. As a result, Rossi returned to repeat the result at the Spanish Grand Prix early April when the finish in the top five, and seven times MotoGP world champion would have to wait longer to realize the dream on the podium.
After the Portuguese Grand Prix, the driver again preparing for the French GP at Le Mans Circuit on May 15. Last season, Lorenzo became champion in this circuit, followed by Rossi and Dovizioso.