 Rossi caused a storm when he appeared at the Isle of Man TT this week |
The Isle of Man TT was blessed with a visitation by its version of the Pope this week when Valentino Rossi dropped in. The legendary Italian was ushered around like a rock star. There were blacked out cars with out-riders and everywhere he went the crowds went wild. His visit added a huge amount of credibility to the event and he couldn't believe the quality of racing - which has been tremendous with lap records falling all over the place - he saw. Rossi was so impressed he described the riders as gladiators. And he needs to evoke that spirit this weekend at the Catalunya GP if he is to return to the top of the MotoGP standings. He was beaten into third place in Mugello by Ducati's Casey Stoner and his own team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. This was only the 12th time in 123 MotoGP races, stretching back to 2002, that Rossi has been beaten by his team-mate when both riders have finished.  | CATALUNYA MOTOGP Saturday 13 June Qualifying: 1200-1500, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1500) Sunday 14 June 125cc and 250cc races: 0950-1205, BBC Red Button/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1205) Race live: 1230-1400, BBC Two/online (repeated on BBC Red Button from 1430) MotoGP Extra: 1400-1430, BBC Red Button/online |
Lorenzo has shown he is the real deal on more than one occasion and Rossi knows he is right on his shoulder. They put a wall up in the Yamaha garage when Lorenzo joined the team to separate the two riders, but it is now very much Rossi's team who are looking over the side as Jorge is getting everything right. His part of the garage have been nailing it strategy-wise and from their tyre choice to when to come in, their's has been better than Rossi's. There has been an element of luck involved and I still feel Valentino will overhaul him over the course of the season, but Lorenzo has been laying down markers. And of course the young Spaniard will have tens of thousands of home fans to back him this weekend, as will compatriot Dani Pedrosa, if he can get himself fit that is. Pedrosa is so fragile. This time last year Lorenzo was flying off his bike left, right and centre and still making the grid for the next race, but Pedrosa seems to injure himself without actually coming off his bike. His frame just doesn't seem to have the muscle bulk to cope and it could prove to be his Achilles heel in his bid to win a world championship. It's swings and roundabouts though as his small build and the fact he is carrying less weight than the other riders does gives him a speed advantage, especially at the start of races. We've seen him come through from the second and third rows on the grid to the front, but he can't be consistent over the course of the season if he is always injured. James Toseland enjoyed his best result of the season with seventh in Mugello, but everything is still not right. He came in very early because of tyre issues and after that had a solid race, yet he again got beaten by his team-mate Colin Edwards. He knows he must work on his corner entry speed but it's all about confidence. It's something that he must get right as the ultimate penalty will be missing out on a MotoGP ride next season. Bradley Smith again lightened the mood from a British perspective by winning his second 125cc class race. It was great to see as this race was won fair and square as he beat all his biggest rivals to the chequered flag. It was a fabulous performance and proved he can be the best 125cc racer in the world.
Catalunya prediction:
1) Valentino Rossi 2) Casey Stoner 3) Jorge Lorenzo
Steve Parrish was talking to BBC Sport's Paul Birch.
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