What can you say about Valentino Rossi’s performance at Welkom, South Africa in this Sunday’s MotoGP race? Was it the greatest road race victory in history? Rossi thought it might have been his personal best. Hard to argue with that.
All of the circumstances were in place for Rossi to lose this one race. He changed teams, away from the mighty Honda machine to the heretofore unrespected Yamaha. He had relatively little time to test, given Honda’s refusal to allow him to test before January 1 of this year. He was racing the Honda “all-star” team, and, most closely, Max Biaggi. Now comfortable with the Honda, Biaggi exploited the advantage (i.e., significantly increased contact patch) of a new 16.5 inch Michelin front tire — perfectly complimenting Biaggi’s riding style (the four-time 250cc World champion “rides the front” in an unapologetic 250cc, high-corner-speed style he has never abandoned). Biaggi rode absolutely brilliantly. Both Biaggi and Rossi left the field so far behind at Welkom, it wasn’t even funny (yes, including Nicky Hayden, our pick to take the championship — while we assumed Valentino would struggle on his new bike).
Of course, Biaggi’s brilliance was overshadowed by that of Rossi, yet again. If Biaggi has not developed a mental complex as a result of the beatings he has taken at the hands of Valentino Rossi in the last few years, he may now. Biaggi rode plenty well enough to beat many a prior champion, but not Rossi.
In a single race, Rossi has changed the entire complexion of the 2004 MotoGP championship series, and must certainly be considered the favorite to take yet another title. Bravo!
