The 117,000 fans who packed the stands at Valencia should have asked for their money back, after a dismal drear-fest procession of a MotoGP race. Asked afterwards, none of the top three riders - Stoner, Rossi, Pedrosa - thought control tyres would

of last year was simply this: had we seen the old titan Rossi ousted? Was Stoner – all but the youngest ever Champion – at the start of a run of serial domination? Or was it all a trick of the light: a matter of electronics and tyres and horsepower, all

turned them down, preferring one more year with Yamaha to race Rossi on equal machinery. The Marlborites then hunted Pedrosa, though it appears without success, for they renewed Nicky Hayden’s contract as second rider, suggesting they had run out

: Simoncelli, Barbera, Bautista and run-out champion Aoyama. They asked for it, and they got it: extra days were laid on.Rossi spoke for many of the veterans with his throwaway line: “If they want to have more laps, they should have come to MotoGP five years

Pedrosa, a target for Rossi's head gamesMotoGP wouldn't be much of a human sport if the participants didn't play head games. Riders have their own ways of psyching out the opposition. Some are quite transparent, others more subtle. I treasure a yarn

! After a downbeat second MotoGP year with a powerful but clumsy Mk2 Desmosedici, Mk3 came out of the box, on the rev limiter and showing everybody the way. Capirossi set a blistering pace, leaving even Rossi's Yamaha trailing. As did a couple of Hondas

I'm guessing, BUT I predict that by the time you read this, Rossi will have one or even both hands on his third consecutive top-class championship.This year, however, has been a little different from last. 2002, the first year of the four

Lorenzo is to join the Yamaha MotoGP team next year. It's not confirmed he'll be with Rossi in the factory squad, but it's highly likely.What's the problem? It started long before the deal was made, with Rossi obliged to deny (nonetheless plausible

of last year was simply this: had we seen the old titan Rossi ousted? Was Stoner – all but the youngest ever Champion – at the start of a run of serial domination? Or was it all a trick of the light: a matter of electronics and tyres and horsepower, all

So it’s over, and Casey’s won. A second title defeat in a row for Valentino Rossi, and this one a real arse-kicking. Even in defeat Vale is the star of the show. He has people skills, after all.Behind the scenes, he has been a driving force