Sachsenring 2006

1st Valentino Rossi

2nd Marco Melandri + 0.145 s

3rd Nicky Hayden + 0.266 s

4th Dani Pedrosa + 0.307 s

This was a classic, nothing to choose among the foursome who were inches apart at a one-line track where overtaking is tricky. There were plenty of sneaky moves here and there, plenty of out-braking manoeuvres at Turn 13, but no one could get away from the skirmish. Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC213V) led just before halfway, then Valentino Rossi (Camel Yamaha YZR-M1) moved ahead for the first time, Melandri and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC213V) prodding and probing, Pedrosa’s team-mate, Nicky Hayden, watching and waiting in fourth.

Pedrosa ruined his chances when an attack on Melandri went awry, which allowed Hayden to sneak through to third. Melandri snuck inside Rossi, only for the reigning champ to come back at him half a lap later. On the final lap Melandri had several stabs, pulling an audacious around-the-outside move at the very last corner that didn’t quite work. Hayden was right behind, hoping the Italians would get tangled up and open the door. They didn’t but at least he kept Pedrosa behind.

Rossi leads the charge through the ’Ring’s sequence of seven consecutive left-handers, laying rubber with Melandri, Pedrosa and Hayden