Rossi had it coming

Well something had to give. After reading John Hopkins’ statement of how Vale is overiding the Yamaha, watching a frustrated Valentino try to pass Randy De Puniet at a part of the track labelled as audacious and then bin it was no surprise.

The downhill waterfall, a favoured passing place, only demonstrated the Yam’s lack of grunt against a Kawasaki, never mind a Ducati. Even shortshifting two gears couldn’t get the bike on par.

Whether or not the proposed new engine scheduled for test in Brno can provide the additional power he needs to be competetive, he’s already on the back foot now. Yamaha is guilty, again, of not getting the bike up to speed. And as a result we have to watch probably the most gifted rider the sport has ever seen try to produce miracles, week in week out. Yes he’s fast mid-corner and a demon on the brakes, but when there’s another bike in the way in the corner who can out-accelerate you to a higher top speed, its all too much.