MOTOGP
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 13/SEPTEMBER 14, 2014
MISANO WORLD CIRCUIT/RIMINI, ITALY
P64
"I think now is the time to change
tactics, but with the exception of
Aragon in two weeks, one of my
home races."
That was it up front, but no-
body could call the race dull as
Rossi stretched steadily away,
riding at 35 with all the vigor of
his youth.
"I am the best Valentino of my
career," he said later. "I don't
think I was riding better when I
won 11 races a season. The prob-
lem now is my rivals are stronger,
younger, and more professional."
Iannone succumbed to both
Pedrosa and Dovizioso on lap
eight, and soon afterwards had
lost touch. But Dovi was a thorn
in the side to the Honda all the
way to the flag, rather to the
Spanish rider's surprise.
"I had a good feeling of en-
ergy," Dovi said, and though he
didn't really have the pace to at-
tack the Honda, he carried on
trying anyway, Misano being a
bit special to an Italian rider on
a Ducati. "In a few corners I was
losing, so had to go over the limit
in sections where I was better. I
was at 100 percent maximum the
whole race, locking the front and
sliding. I took a lot of risks - more
than usual."
Quite an admission, for a rider
who is usually so well measured.
He was just over a second adrift
at the flag, and a landmark 5.5
seconds off the lead.
Monster Tech 3 Yamaha's Pol
Espargaro was dropping away
behind Iannone, finishing sixth;
teammate Bradley Smith was an-
other four seconds away, after
losing touch when running wide
on lap two. He lost two positions,
but by the time he got them back
the rest had gone.
There'd been a lively battle for
Jorge Lorenzo (99) ended up a
lonely second after leading the
opening laps.
