Dutch MotoGP 2012: Casey Stoner and the Assen stuff

They don't call Assen The Cathedral in vain. A spectacular layout that favors overtaking at practically any point on the circuit, a loyal and dedicated hobby, the kind that do not need kilometer-long avenues in which to do the pimp, and … always a Grand Prix that leaves a lot to talk about. Today the Netherlands has shown us that everything can change in an instant, we have seen it in Moto2 and we have also seen it in the premier class when Jorge Lorenzo fell in the first corner. After this race Jorge has lost his 25 point advantage over Casey stoner, and this one, continuously crushed by the commentators on television, returns to the role that it has never stopped having: Defender of the title and leader of the classification together with the Majorcan.

Unfortunately for Yamaha but fortunately for the fans, with this result the championship becomes very interesting with a Dani Pedrosa in second position, on the rise and as fast as in the best times and Stoner back on the podium. After having overcome the conservatism at the beginning of the season, the Sabadell is in an ideal situation that he had not savored for a long time while the Australian is dedicated to leaving his critics without arguments.

In a brilliant exit from Dani Pedrosa, the Catalan was not the protagonist. The reason? Álvaro Bautista arrived thrown inside the curve in what seemed like a brutal overtaking of those that mark a season. And honestly, he probably did, but not on merit, but on having taken Jorge Lorenzo away and forcing Crutchlow off the track as he fell, blocking the front wheel under braking. This left Dani Pedrosa in the lead, followed by Casey Stoner, Ben Spies, Andrea Dovizioso and Stefan Bradl.

Stefan tried to assault the position of the Yamaha of the Tech3 but his determination wiped out the CSF on the floor. With three fewer drivers in the race Ducati could show off more than ever with Héctor Barberá in sixth position, accompanied by officers Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi. The Repsol riders, who have been advised not to travel to the Argentine GP, quickly distanced themselves from their main opponents. When there were still 20 laps to go to the end of the race Spies and Dovizioso were a duo too far from Honda to make any attempt. Andrea, by the way, abandoned that wheel sucker for a few laps but left the role to Ben.

Behind him, Valentino led a group in which he captured the attention of the eyes with the fight between the Italian, Nicky, Hector and a newcomer, Cal Crutchlow. And is that the arrival of the madman-looking Brit enlivened the group, and the race. First he got rid of Barberá and, injured, continued on his way to overcome Rossi. Yes, the fight between the Yamaha satellite and the official one was meters ahead, but the show of talent and effort was in this group. Il Dottore, unfortunately, had to pit due to mechanical problems with ten laps to go to the checkered flag.

Moment when Casey delivered the coup de grace to his teammate, taking the lead to try to find a pace that would take him away from 26. A goal he reached in just two laps, taking a one-second lead that would increase to four and that served as a cushion to end up winning the race. On the last lap Dovi got behind the Texan, passing him to the end of the straight and getting on the podium. The award for the best CRT fell to Randy De Puniet, eighth, one point behind his teammate.