MotoGP: Rossi back in the saddle

Pedrosa beat Lorenzo. Easily. It was a serious trouncing after half-a-season of threatening.

De Puniet had a crash involving two other riders, a fire and breaks to his tib and fib.

But important as these things were, few really cared. For having gained 5th in qualifying, and having made it up to 4th for the start of the re-run of the race after the clear-up at the end of lap 9 left a 21 lap race to be run, it was Valentino Rossi that all eyes were on, including those of Nicky Hayden and Casey Stoner.

As the re-run started, Hayden passed Rossi. Rossi was swift in his retribution and Hayden was left behind. That lest Stoner as Rossi's next target. For a dozen or so laps, they swapped places - Rossi in his favourite downhill, left hand swoop.

In the last seconds of the race, Stoner outfoxed Rossi and forced him wide to take third place.

Rossi, just missing the podium, was the centre of attention.

Six weeks ago, after one of the most terrifying high-sides ever seen, Rossi broke his right leg so severely that the bone stuck out through the skin.

This afternoon, he used that leg to operate the brake pedal on his Yamaha. Few expected him to last the race distance. But he did, plus the time-out while the clean-up took place. And then he mugged both Ducati riders, eventually losing out to one.

As an object lesson in determination and courage, and possibly stupidity, Valentino Rossi is on the top step of the podium, no matter where he finished in the race. (4th, by the way).