MotoGP never ceases to amaze and today was no different as Casey Stoner dominated the French Grand Prix for his second victory of the season while drama unfolded behind him.
For Stoner the race was a cakewalk, the Australian taking the lead from fast starting teammate Dani Pedrosa early and pulling away from that point forward, the Repsol Honda man eventually winning by 14.2 seconds over his other teammate Andrea Dovizioso.
Although no one could match Stoner’s pace, his cause was made even easier by what occurred behind him. With Pedrosa trailing Stoner by 3.1 seconds on the 17th lap, things went badly as San Carlo Honda Gresini’s Marco Simoncelli came across the front of Pedrosa’s front wheel, sending the Spaniard sprawling into the gravel trap and holding his right shoulder.
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Simoncelli had second to himself at that point - almost eight seconds behind Stoner - but that would change. Race direction reviewed the incident as the race progressed and determined that Simoncelli would be penalized with a ride-through. The Italian served the penalty on the 25th lap, falling from second and nine seconds adrift of Stoner to 7th and 35 seconds behind.
Simoncelli would pass both Yamaha’s Ben Spies and Marlboro Ducati’s Nicky Hayden to eventually finish fifth. Cycle News
Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) equalled his best result of the 2011 with sixth place which is what he achieved at the opening race at Losail, the American, lost out to Simoncelli after the Italian got the better of him despite his ride through penalty. Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) was seventh, ahead of Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) who had a lonely race in eighth.
Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar) won the race long battle to finish in ninth. The Spaniard had been involved in a very exciting tussle with Karel Abraham (Cardion AB Motoracing) who finished tenth, Toni Elías (LCR Honda), 11th and Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) 12th. After the poor start to his return to MotoGP, Elías was showing signs of his old self and showing his ability which took him to the 2010 Moto2 World Championship and was up to 11th place in a five rider battle in the early part of the race, but had a massive moment and was lucky to keep hold of his Honda but dropped to the back of the group. The 28 year old did manage to pick his way through a number of the riders after a difficult four rounds of the season.
Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) who had qualified an impressive sixth on his first visit to the Le Mans circuit, suffered a lowside when in ninth place on lap five and had to return his machine back to the pits for his first non finish in his rookie campaign. It was not a good day for Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in their home race in France after Colin Edwards also crashed out mid way through the race but managed to get back out to pick up…..points
It was not a happy day for the French fans who had hoped to see Randy de Puniet (Pramac Racing) pick up his best result of the season. The French Ducati rider crashed into the gravel on lap two and walked back to the pits dejectedly. Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing) suffered a similar fate as he crashed out towards the end of the race. motogp.com
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