Catalunya MotoGP 2011: Another cruise and collect for Casey

SPRAYING: Stoner sprays the bubbly after a comfortable win

AUSTRALIAN Casey Stoner closed the gap on Jorge Lorenzo at the top of the MotoGP standings, after cruising to victory in Catalunya.  It is the Repsol Honda’s third win of the 2011 season from five starts, and he now only trails defending champion Lorenzo by seven points.

     Stoner dominated the entire weekend, but was pipped to pole position in the dying stages of qualifying by a fired-up Marco Simoncelli.  The charismatic Italian earnt his first MotoGP pole position, but was never a factor in the race.  Simoncelli was gobbled up on the rundown to the first corner and then rode a rather low-key ride to sixth place; probably best for him after all the controversy of the recent races.

     Once again, Lorenzo won the race to the first corner, but the power of the Honda saw Stoner overhaul the Yamaha rider on the start-finish straight at the beginning of the second lap.  Although Lorenzo was able to keep him in touch for the majority of the race, Stoner never looked like he was going to be beaten.  Injuries continue to decimate the field in the premier class of motorcycling.  Dani Pedrosa was declared unfit to ride following the clash with Simoncelli in Le Mans last month, which saw the frail Spaniard suffer a fractured collarbone.  Colin Edwards would join him on the casualty list.  The ‘Texan Tornado,’ went down heavily in practice, and despite being desperate to race, was told not to on medical grounds.  It was the first race the American missed since he broke into MotoGP in 2003.

     Behind Stoner and Lorenzo, Ben Spies earnt his first rostrum as a factory Yamaha rider.  2011 has been a tricky season for Spies, as he has struggled to provide consistency and a stern challenge to his highly-rated team-mate.  Hopefully, Barcelona is a turn in the right direction for him.  The second Honda of Andrea Dovizioso was beaten into fourth place, despite his best efforts to overcome his equivalent in the Yamaha team.  Ducati’s Valentino Rossi was a solid fifth, ahead of Simoncelli, Britain’s Cal Crutchlow and the sister Ducati of Nicky Hayden.  It was another bad day for Randy de Puniet.  The likeable Frenchman was taken out in the early stages by Hiroshi Aoyama.  Fortunately, both got up from the gravel pit unhurt.

     Already, the 2011 MotoGP season is starting to look like a battle between two men for the title.  Silverstone this weekend should be interesting. . .