We should know better than to predict the outcome of a motorcycle race, especially when Valentino Rossi is involved. Before 2pm today the consensus was that Laguna is a track that never produces a good race, the 800s haven't ever produced an great race (well, only one or two), Stoner was so far ahead that no-one would see which way he went, and anyway electronics have ruined everything.

At 3pm none of the above applied.

As Dean has already pointed out, Rossi rode the perfect defensive race for a tight track, and could run Stoner's pace thanks to a couple of tenths his crew found for him after warm-up. Never underestimate what Jerry Burgess and the Fiat Yamaha team can do to give Rossi what he needs. What followed was a race--no, a fight--that was up there with anything we have seen, and that includes Phillip Island '03 and Welkom '04. There were more changes of the lead than I can remember, and some very, very close racing. There were also at least two moments that caused the whole crowd to take a sharp intake of breath.

Rossi's moment at the Corkscrew and a pass on Casey at turn five being the most memorable. The race was decided by what Casey first said was 'completely my mistake.' Later he was said he thought the mistake happened because Valentino braked a little early for Turn 11. That was at the post-race press conference; immediately after the race Casey had refused Rossi's hand in parc ferme and offered the opinion that some of the passes had been beyond aggressive.

It has been shown several times that if things get personal then Valentino tends to come out on top. This has been demonstrated to both Mr Biaggi and Mr Gibernau. The Doctor does not waste ammunition on those opponents who are not a threat to him. Noises emanating from the Fiat Yamaha camp indicate that Rossi is very angry indeed at the suggestion that he rides dirty. Jerry Burgess,a fellow Aussie, opined that it's a good job Casey wasn't racing in the 1980s against Lawson, Schwantz, et al--and especially Luca Cadalora.

So, on the weekend he announced that he will race for two more years with Yamaha he goes to his Summer holiday with a 25-point lead over the opposition and a new-found anger. The gloves are off.