Motorsports Mondial
American in Assen
Photo. Moto GP
Dutch treat for Ben Spies. Texan Yamaha rider took his maiden Moto GP victory in the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen on Saturday. The first maiden victory for Moto GP’s new crop since Andrea Dovizioso’s day of days at Donington in 2009.
His world champion teammate, Jorge Lorenzo of Spain, was involved in an opening lap tangle with pole sitter Italian Marco Simoncelli, but fought back to finish sixth.
Australian Casey Stoner was second, seven seconds behind Spies. Stoner’s Honda teammate Dovizioso was third.
Valentino Rossi, the Doctor on Ducati, was fourth, fifth was “Kentucky Kid” and the 2006 World Champion, Nicky Hayden. Second Texan in the race, Colin Edwards, was seventh.
26-year old Spies was born in Memphis, TN and now reside in Longview, TX. Last year he was Moto GP’s Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in the standings. In 2009, he won the World Superbikes Championship in his rookie season.
Stoner leads the championship, 28 points clear of second place Lorenzo. Dovizioso is third.
Next round is next weekend at Ferrari-owned Mugello circuit in Toscana.
Photo. GP2 Media
Romain rules in Valencia. Romain Grosjean took his second win of the season in the streets of Valencia in GP2’s feature race.
Dutch driver Giedo van der Garde had to relinquish his lead to serve a drive through penalty, he came back to grab second place in the closing laps of the race.
His Addax teammate and pole sitter, Frenchman Charles Pic ran out of luck even before the start as his car broke down on the warm up lap.
Davide Valsecchi was third. Jules Bianchi, one of the pre-season favorites and in his second year of GP2 competition, was out on the opening lap after hard contact with Swede Marcus Ericsson.
Sunday’s sprint race will see last year Valencia flier, Czech Josef Kral, start from pole after finishing eighth in the feature race. He will share the front row with seventh place finisher, Mexican Esteban Gutierrez.
Photo. GP3 Media
Maiden win for Manor racer. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs started from the second row, and never looked back after grabbing the lead at the start of Saturday’s race one in Valencia. The English driver’s winning margin was over 6.5s over Scottish pole sitter Lewis Williamson.
Kiwi Mitch Evans now leads the championship by a single point, thanks to third place finish, over Dutchman Nigel Melker who failed to finish.
Gabby Chaves, 17-year old rookie from Colombia, was fourth.
Sunday’s race two will have eighth place finisher James Calado on pole, sharing the front row with the English driver will be his Lotus ART teammate from Finland Valtteri Bottas, he was seventh in Saturday’s race.
— Nasir Hameed
Greetings and racing regards.