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2009 MotoGP Laguna Seca Preview
| | | Once again the best roadracers on the planet will descend on the Laguna Seca circuit for the annual USGP. Running on the July 4th weekend, the stars and stripes play host to title leaders Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner, who will duke it out with American stars Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards.
Last year’s USGP featured an epic battle between Rossi and Stoner. The race was memorable for two moments in particular: First was Rossi making a daring, some would argue reckless, overtaking maneuver past Stoner in the dirt through Laguna’s notorious corkscrew; Second was Stoner binning his Ducati in the gravel and finishing second, one of the mistakes that would see Rossi claim the 2008 crown.
Flash forward another year and Rossi returns the presumptive favorite. Celebrating his 100th career GP victory last round at Assen, The Doctor will be hunting for win 101. His Fiat Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, will want to not repeat the highside that doomed his inaugural run at Laguna in 2008 - one of the many crashes that spoiled the Mallorcan’s rookie campaign. Instead, Lorenzo must focus on securing points to stay within striking distance of Rossi, who is a mere five points ahead in the championship.
Stoner battled with Rossi during an epic 2008 USGP. It wasn't until this mistake that Stoner's second-place fate was sealed.Stoner steamrolled his way to USGP victory in 2007 during his juggernaut championship run but had to settle for second in 2008. The Aussie openly questioned some of Rossi’s aggressive tactics after his ’08 loss, perhaps the Ducati ace will find some payback on Sunday.
As for Stoner’s teammate, Nicky Hayden, the American continues to struggle aboard the Ducati. A measure of the Kentucky Kid’s slide in fortune is that his mediocre eighth-place finish at A ssen was his best of the season. Can Hayden come close to regaining his USGP-winning form on Sunday? Even a podium would be a moral victory for two-time USGP winner and former champion.
Another man looking to change his Laguna Seca fortunes is American Colin Edwards. The Texas Tornado scored a second-place podium in 2005, but has sin...
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