Round twelve of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship, at Brno, came after the four-week late summer break. Rossi proved that the layoff had worked in the favour of Camel Yamaha as he sped onto pole position for only the second time this season with the M1. The points leading Repsol Hondas of Hayden and Dani Pedrosa were in a less promising position, with all the RC211V riders missing the front row as they had in the United States. Nicky was fourth, and his team-mate ninth.

Second place fell to Bridgestone tyres and the Marlboro Ducati of Loris Capirossi, finding similar form to his 2005 race here. Team-mate Sete Gibernau, disappointing at Laguna after his earlier crash in Barcelona, was again rested for Alex Hofmann to step up from the Pramac d’Antín team. The 26-year-old German would start 14th. For the third time running, also on the front row was Kenny Roberts, keeping up his mid-season form with the KR-Honda.

Between Hayden and Pedrosa came Shin’ya Nakano (Kawasaki), Toní Elías (Fortuna Honda), John Hopkins (Suzuki) and Colin Edwards (Camel Yamaha). Some reports suggested that Nakano’s ZX-RR was a new chassis version, but either way he was in the top five for the eighth time. Meanwhile, Elías’ sixth put him ahead of race winning team-mate Marco Melandri (11th) for the first time since round three. Between Pedrosa and Melandri was the second Kawasaki of Randy de Puniet.

Casey Stoner had qualified 12th for LCR Honda, from Chris Vermeulen and the second Rizla Suzuki, Hofmann, and Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda). The two Dunlop-shod Tech 3 Yamahas followed, with James Ellison, on the 2005 chassis, ahead of Carlos Checa on the updated 2006 step one version. Spaniards José Luís Cardoso and Iván Silva rounded out the grid on their customer Ducatis.

Capirossi made an excellent start to lead away, with Hayden up to second before Rossi found a way past. Stoner flew up to fifth before relegating Roberts to go fourth; and Pedrosa was sixth, with Edwards taking the next slot from Nakano, who would then head Melandri. Elías and Hopkins had therefore been the men to drop positions off the line.

Pedrosa was in attacking mood from the off, passing Roberts on the inside for the penultimate left-hander at turn 13, and pressing fourth man Stoner. Kenny’s early prospects looked even less healthy when Edwards also relegated the former champion. As Capirossi powered away with a new lap record at the head of the field, Honda runners were on the up in the next group. Pedrosa passed Stoner at turn seven, a left-hander down the hill from the start-finish area, to be followed through by Edwards. Melandri passed Nakano and Roberts to go seventh.

Capirossi was a handy leader in no time at all, from Rossi, Hayden, Pedrosa, Edwards and Stoner. Melandri lost out to a recovering Roberts, with Nakano, Hopkins, Tamada, Elías, Vermeulen, de Puniet, Checa, Hofmann, Ellison and Silva next in line. Loris’ margin of advantage was an impressive 2.5 seconds after just five laps, whereas Rossi was not breaking away from the Honda hordes, plus team-mate Edwards. The biggest battle now looked to be between Repsol twins Hayden and Pedrosa, with the rookie looking for a way past.

Dani challenged on the inside for the right-hand loop of turn one, and it was a close thing as he had to sit up and drift wide. Next time round he made no mistake, and he was soon chasing down second man Rossi. Meanwhile, Melandri was doing the same to Hayden, having already dealt with Roberts, Stoner and Edwards. The field was now resolving into smaller groups of riders, with Colin tracked by Casey, Kenny and Shin’ya Nakano; and with Hopkins in lonely pursuit.

Capirossi’s lead was four seconds on lap eight, by which time Rossi and Pedrosa had moved clear of a separate tussle between Hayden and Melandri. Meanwhile, Stoner was soon to pass Edwards and make it a contest of three Hondas for fourth. Marco overtook Nicky at turn 13, but didn’t stay ahead for too long. He made it stick next time, and Casey soon followed his example with a move at turn one.

Capirossi was five seconds clear by half-distance, eleven laps, and his untouchable performance would push this up to eight before he eased off in the late stages. But there was a close race between Rossi and Pedrosa, with the young Spaniard on the champion’s tail even after a mistake took him wide at one stage. Their confrontation would catch the imagination towards the finish.

Behind, more reshuffling occurred in the next group. Hayden’s troubles were compounded when Roberts pushed him back to seventh, but Kenny was coming on strong and added Stoner and Melandri to his conquests. Casey passed Marco temporarily, but only the Italian could stay with 33-year-old KR. But Hayden, seemingly with rear tyre concerns, was soon coming under fire from Nakano, to be joined by Hopkins.

With Capirossi safe, the battle for second now kicked into gear. Pedrosa was threatening Rossi, and the Italian cut across when his rival tried to get through on the inside at turn 13. Next, Dani made a tight line through the turn 12 right-hander work for an inside pass, only for Valentino to power ahead again on the next straight. Then Pedrosa did it again at turn 14, onto the pit straight, but Rossi was on the inside for turn one. Six corners after the first move they were still at it, with Dani passing at turn three. This time ‘the Doctor’ got it back at turn five. There were four laps to go.

As all concerned caught their breath, spectators and riders alike no doubt, now Rossi started to ease clear of the young pretender. With two to go, the break was established. Capirossi was an acclaimed winner, but with Rossi beating all his Honda-mounted championship rivals. Pedrosa’s cause was helped in a similar way, while Roberts was a strong fourth, just ahead of Melandri, and with Stoner next.

Hayden was not so lucky, his seventh place becoming ninth at the flag. Having swapped places briefly with Nakano, the pair then lost out to Hopkins. These three were together rounding the final corner, with John securing seventh, and Shin’ya pulling ahead of Nicky around the outside of the bend, for eighth. Edwards was back in P10, from Elías, Vermeulen, Tamada, de Puniet, Checa, Hofmann, Ellison and Silva. Cardoso was the only non-finisher.

A fine performance from Loris Capirossi had secured his 27th Grand Prix win, and fifth in the 990cc class. But the relative positions of Nicky Hayden, Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi and Marco Melandri served to close up the championship race a few notches. Rossi moved from fourth back to third, whilst Pedrosa closed the lead down to 25 points, the reward for a single race win. Nicky cannot take anything for granted against his fiercely competitive European rivals, especially judging by his team-mate’s will to scrap with Rossi for four more points today. Meanwhile, the admirable Kenny Roberts made it another good day for the family team, moving ahead of Colin Edwards in a sustained mid-season charge.

Standings after twelve races: Hayden 201; Pedrosa 176; Rossi 163; Melandri 161; Capirossi 151; Stoner 101; Roberts 92; Edwards 90; Hopkins 83; Nakano 75; Tamada 67; Elías 64; Vermeulen 61; Gibernau 58; Checa 54.
Honda 262; Yamaha 201; Ducati 154; Suzuki 101; Roberts-Proton 92; Kawasaki 83.

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