A-Style Finish

Shinya has at long last, finished on that much quoted top podium in Assen. Hip hip hooray ! Okay technically, it wasn't the one right at the top, but all that matters is that it's a podium finish. He was poised to take third place with Hayden and Edwards racing in front of him right to the last few minutes when Edwards crashed out. I shrieked for poor ol' Edward but then was yipee-ing up and down for Shinya.


Shinya started off second on the grid, making sure he was a good inch or so from the white line. He was pipped the pole position by John Hopkins by 0.013s, who in the end finished sixth. It wasn't a fantastic start. Hayden and Edwards slipped past him and he was relegated to fourth. Then like the Ninja he is, he crept past Hopkins and never let up after. Thereafter, he was an island all on his own between the battling Hayden and Edwards and the cluster of 3 behind him.


A little too far behind to catch up.


Wheezing ahead of the chasing pack.


In the meantime, in front of him, the drama was playing itself out. Edwards looked like he was going to be a sure second when he went off track.


But he came back and passed Hayden again...


And then he was thrown off his bike, within smelling distance of the finishing line. That was painful to watch. But, it's soon forgotten. (Sorry, Colin!)



Seconds later, Shinya wheelied his way to his first podium of the season.



Here's the final lap, with a blow by blow account in Japanese.


Shinya was embraced by his ecstatic crew.



And fussed over by the media.


Elsewhere, Melandri and Rossi looked like casualties of war after racing despite injuries. Rossi was all grins though, finishing eighth after starting last on the grid. Melandri finished six seconds and one place ahead of Rossi, but he looked like was just ran through the dryer. After the crash last week, I'm surprised he could even get out of bed.



And it's back to Shinya, who climbs the steps to the hallowed stage of the podium.


He struts in..


Strikes a fierce pose.


Raises the trophy in victory.


Puts on his shades.


Sprays champagne all around.


And downs some.

"It goes without saying that I'm happy to score my best result in MotoGP with second place here today, although I was happy enough when I thought I was going to finish third! I knew I needed to be on the front row to secure a good result on this new Assen circuit, and Bridgestone certainly gave me the qualifying tyre to achieve that. I got a good start, but I just couldn't stay with Colin, Nicky and John during the opening laps. We had to go for a hard front tyre because of the rise in temperature this afternoon, and I had some chatter from the front early on in the race. But then it improved and I was able to chase down and pass John as the race approached the halfway stage. At the end I was too far back to see what happened to Colin, but as I came through the final chicane I saw his bike on the side of the track, but it was a second or so before I realised that this meant I was in second place. I have to say thank you to the team who, despite our recent run of bad luck, have never lost their confidence in me. When the team are confident in me, it gives me confidence on the bike. This result was not just down to me, but to everyone in the Kawasaki Racing Team who've worked so hard this year. And also to Amelia who has not spared me the verbal rod when I wasn't peforming up to par, despite being such an ardent fan. You have jolted me on, thank you!"

- Shinya after A-style Assen finish

Source : Kawasaki-Eckl

Alrite, I made up the last two sentences. But I'm drunk happy and it is my blog, heh. Banzai, Shinya !