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Brilliant Win for Rossi in Assen MotoGP
Category: Racing News
Date: 03 Jul 2007
Time: 12:33:16 -0400Comments
Fiat Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi put in a commanding performance on his YZR-M1 sporting special 1950’s-inspired livery to win the Dutch TT at Assen, Holland on Saturday, June 30. Climbing from the fourth row on the grid to overtake leader Casey Stoner was a major achievement by any standard, but even more importantly, Rossi’s third win of the year draws him closer to Stoner in the championship point standings. He now trails the Australian by just 21 points with nine races remaining – including the U.S. Grand Prix in Monterey, Calif. on July 20-22. Rainy qualifying conditions brought grid positions of only 11th and sixth for Rossi and teammate Colin Edwards, respectively. While Stoner immediately grabbed the race lead from pole-sitter Chris Vermeulen on the first of 26 laps, “The Doctor” began an incredible advance that took him past half the field and into second by lap 12. From then on, Rossi tucked his YZR-M1 right behind Stoner, looking for a way past. He found it just four laps from the finish, darting inside with a bold latebraking maneuver. From there Rossi opened up a convincing lead of nearly two seconds at the flag. Edwards finished a solid sixth – exactly where he began. By happy coincidence, Rossi’s victory also marked Yamaha’s 150th win in the world’s premier road-racing class. "This was an incredible race, I think maybe one of the top five of my career!” he exulted afterwards. “My M1 worked brilliantly today and in the last few laps I was able to go past and win. I have to say a big ‘thank you’ to Michelin and to my team, because today our package was brilliant and I was able to ride at the maximum. Congratulations to Yamaha for 150 wins – I am glad that we could celebrate like this!"