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Written by:
Colin Young
06/28/2008 - 01:03 PM
Assen, The Netherlands
Ducati Marlboro's Casey Stoner (Photo: Ducati Corse) ยป More Photos
It's game on for Casey Stoner and Ducati in the MotoGP World Championship following another commanding victory, this time in the Dutch TT at Assen.
While Stoner cruised to his third win of the season, the race was a nightmare for American ace Nicky Hayden and a dream for countryman Colin Edwards (Tech3 Yamaha). Hayden's Honda RC212V, running the latest pneumatic-valve engine, ran out of fuel just yards from the flag allowing a fast-finishing Edwards to claim a last-gasp third place.
Ahead in a secure second was Hayden's Repsol Honda teammate, Dani Pedrosa, in what was a processional race for victory such was the dominance of Stoner and Ducati.
Stoner's winning margin was an amazing 11 seconds, backing up his clinical exhibition at Donington last week. He led all 26 laps from pole position with Pedrosa unchallenged for second.
Hayden's bike suffered a computer glitch, which did not correctly calculate the fuel consumption with first sign of trouble coming on lap one with a dashboard warning light. It was an undeserving end for the 2006 world champion who coasted his crippled Honda across the line in fourth
Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) finished fifth with Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo sixth after a late race pass on Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) in seventh.
"Unfortunately this game can be cruel sometimes," Hayden said of this latest setback. "I had a good race going but the bike finally quit right before the finish line. It would have been nice to be on the podium."
Edwards was beaming after the race with his wife and two children on hand to share the celebration. On his charge through the pack Edwards accounted for Vermeulen who was fourth early, Dovizioso, Shinya Nakano, and James Toseland.
"There is not a single shred of me that feels sorry for Nicky Hayden," Edwards said. "When Rossi got into some argy bargy with De Puniet, I had to stop my bike and was last, but once I got going I could see Nicky and Dani coming back to me so I just kept applying the pressure. I don't give a (bleep), Nicky's bike broke, that's racing."
The race was amateur hour for seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi, who made an error on lap one, taking an innocent Randy de Puniet out of the race.
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