Two Wheel Tuesday - #3

This past weekend Assen hosted the Dutch Grand Prix. As a Nicky Hayden fan, I had big hopes for this race as #69 has won here in the past. As far as Nicky was concerned, the race was over at lap one.  He had a poor start from 5th and never recovered. He was in 9th at the first turn and that was that. In the post-race interviews, Nicky said that he was folding the front trying to make up time and went as fast as he could under those conditions. Not a very good showing from Nicky during this race. He needs to step it up a notch. The other side of Team Red's garage fared much better as Stoner put the Ducati on the box for the first time this year. Spies led a MotoGP race for the first time and finished a very respectable fourth, the satellite rider's career best finish. Rossi's bike was parked again and once again, the rising star of Lorenzo shone down upon the land. Jorge is in a league of his own. Pedrosa gave him an early run, but Jorge shrugged the challenge off again and laid waste to the field. This championship is his to lose. Sorry for the abbreviated race report, but this race had little drama and wasn't my favorite contest thus far this year.

The drama was reserved for later in the week, when insiders are confident that Rossi has already signed with Ducati for next year. This dovetails nicely with the associated rumor that Stoner has already left the nest for Honda. The rumor mill around Rossi has been spinning tales for some time now. For example, it's been long rumored that Rossi has a decision to make, take €9M from Yamaha or take €15M from Ducati. It's long been assumed that Lorenzo wants €8M from Yamaha and if he wins the title, he will get it. That's too close for comfort for the prized Italian rider and he might bolt for Ducati. If he does that, stand by for a the Italians to lose their minds in absolute ecstacy. An Italian champion on an Italian bike? It's happened before, but it has been a very long time.

Then again, all this talk may be a carefully orchestrated means to get Rossi in the news while he recuperates. Time will tell.