the demise of the 500cc two strokes, chipping a bone in his ankle and fracturing bones in both feet. It was a testament to Lorenzo's courage that he rode at all on Saturday, but the measure of Lorenzo was managing to grab 4th on the grid, despite nearly

start, dropping from 2nd on the grid down to 8th into the first corner.Exiting the fast first corner, Stoner still led, but Nicky Hayden clearly had a plan. Pulling all the way over to the left hand side of the track, he took the longer, outside line

't expected to do this in his first year; 2006 was meant as a learning year, so he could get used to the ferocious power of a big four-stroke, and learn to set these bikes up properly, to be ready for his first serious title attempt in 2007. His team mate

have a couple of jokers up their sleeves.But judging by history (a noble goal, at a track so rich in it), Casey Stoner, and everyone else, will have their work cut out for them trying to keep up with the Yamahas at Le Mans. Since the start of the four-stroke

tears of nostalgia when the two strokes went, to be shed once again at the demise of the 990s. But on each of those occasions, there was also hope and curiosity, waiting to see what the new bikes that replaced them would bring.2009, though

be up to speed, in every sense, after a full year of learning the four-stroke ropes. Then there was the meaty issue of the new 800s: what would they be like, and how would riding styles have to change to make them really fast? And finally, to top it all