Hitting the Apex Page #10

I was crying inside my helmet,

because of the pain I felt

during this 36 hours.

But also crying

about the emotion of doing this thing.

Pedrosa still led the championship.

But Lorenzo

had only lost three points to him.

I couldn't believe that I crash

and again

I re-injure the same collarbone.

We change something on the electronic,

the behavior of the engine.

I'm sure that creates this big slide

that I had.

My physical condition was not right

to make some experiments.

So, it was a mistake of me.

I felt again too much overconfidence.

And I repeat the same mistake

with the bad luck that I impacted

the same collarbone.

Another operation. Another surgery.

That damaged his condition much more.

I'm going home.

Good luck.

Lorenzo's misfortune

was Dani Pedrosa's opportunity.

Good luck.

I hope it goes well.

Jorge crashed on Friday.

I had 23 points lead over Marc.

I had like a highway

for the championship.

Everything can change in one second,

you know?

It's broken.

Unfortunately it's my way...

in my career.

You have to think also

about the past.

Dani now has a lot of problems

with his body, bad injuries.

A lot of difficult recovery,

so I think that for Dani

it's more difficult than for Jorge.

With Pedrosa and Lorenzo out,

the championship had a new leader.

Halfway through the season,

the rookie was on top.

So now I'm leading

the world championship.

If you tell me that on the pre-season,

I would say you are crazy.

Big surprise even for me.

But, you know, it's a great moment.

And I for one enjoy

this peaceful moment before.

The first thing

from the doctors was not to ride

because the fracture is there.

And it's only 20% of the bone

remaining together.

If I had a crash,

immediately, full crack.

This collarbone

is very hard to operate, mine,

because already many times

I had problems here.

So I take the risk.

I didn't want to race

in Laguna, to be honest.

But when I saw Dani crash,

I rethink, I am going to Laguna.

The national anthem,

played by 14 time grammy-nominee

Joe Satriani.

Lorenzo extremely wide

coming through turn two.

For me, it was even harder

to finish the race than it was in Assen,

because my physical condition

was much worse

after one month without training.

So, the sixth place for me

was even with more merit.

One point more I take

than him in this race.

But our main rival was winning.

He goes around the outside.

Rossi will try and come back.

Oh, then Marquez goes through

on the inside of The Corkscrew.

The Valentino Rossi Memorial line.

He's at the final corner here

at Laguna Seca.

Marc Marquez makes his debut

at Laguna Seca with a victory.

Opens up a bigger lead

in the world championship.

First rider to win here at Laguna Seca

on his debut.

The youngest ever rider to score

back-to-back grand prix wins.

I say this is a f***ing bastard.

While Lorenzo and Pedrosa

were handicapped by injury,

Marquez won four races in a row.

He didn't put a foot wrong

until the morning

of the British Grand Prix.

It was around ten o'clock.

Cal Crutchlow went down

a few hundred yards ahead of Marquez.

The marshals around the track

were waving yellow flags...

...warning the oncoming riders

to slow down.

Marquez didn't see the flags.

Fortunately, the marshals saw Marquez.

He would get two points on his license

for irresponsible riding.

He copped two points

for nearly taking out the marshals.

That was quite a big safety deal.

Marquez had a more immediate

problem. A dislocated shoulder.

It was dislocated.

Some ligaments were

a little bit damaged.

The race was at 2:00pm.

He had four hours to recover.

Meanwhile, Jorge Lorenzo

was feeling good again.

I felt stronger than in Brno.

So on Sunday morning

when he crashed in the warm up,

I knew his confidence and probably

his physical condition could be worse.

So I say, this is my chance to attack

and to win this race.

I knew it before the race

that Jorge would push a lot

in the beginning of the race

because he knew I was injured.

I need to do a good start.

And it was like, he pushed a lot,

but I was able to be behind him.

Also I know that the end of the race

will be harder for me,

because I feel tired

from the shoulder.

What happened?

I started better than him. I passed him.

But he was in my ass all the race.

So even injured, he was there.

Not giving up.

I tried to improve my lap time

to get away. I couldn't.

Then he came.

He passed me in one braking

that I knew he was stronger.

So I tried to study him

for half a lap

and I see the occasion to pass him

in the braking point.

Here he comes!

Lorenzo's going to lead.

He's not going to give an inch

to Marquez.

Lorenzo takes the lead once more.

And in the last lap I went

even faster trying to open the lead up.

But the problem is that I entered

too quick in the chicane

that I lose the front

and then he recovers two tenths.

And he makes a small mistake,

then I catch him.

So I say he's going

to try in the hard braking again.

So I tried to close the door,

but then I brake too hard

and the rear wheel starts to snake

and I was going wide.

I was able to pass him.

Marquez dives for the inside line.

For a moment

I thought I finish second.

Then on that last corner

when I changed direction,

I feel no power, I go a little bit wide.

I have to try. This is

my chance. I have to win this race.

It's gonna be a drag to the line

between the Yamaha and the Honda.

Jorge Lorenzo wins an incredible battle

here at Silverstone!

Lorenzo won

the next race in San Marino,

cutting Marquez's lead to 34 points

with five races to go.

It was Rossi's home race.

He was fourth. Again.

In the second half of the season,

he was on and off the podium.

More off than on.

Almost there, but not quite.

What was it? The bike? Or the rider?

I don't know what's happening

inside Valentino right now.

Because, you know, after two years

with the problem we know

and after the bad story of Marco,

I don't know

what is rolling around his head.

For that reason, I have more respect

for Valentino now.

I consider him a strong person,

not a strong champion. It's different.

For me, it's not important if he win

one more championship.

I like the story of Valentino Rossi.

The biggest respect

for a guy such as him.

A question for Vale. Your helmet.

What can you say about the new design?

This time we decide to make

something more serious.

Because already quite a long time

that Marco is not with us.

But here is his home racetrack.

The circuit is in his name.

So we decide to remember him.

A tribute to remember him.

We made something for Marco not using

the brand, the two red stripes.

Only a song.

Valentino sent me the text.

And he chose a part of the text.

And we reproduce it around the helmet.

Every time I read the text, mamma mia,

and at the end talking about fear.

The same fear.

How I wish, how I wish you were here

We're just two lost souls

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