MotoGP Blog

Thanks to all our competitors last week - it was a week that was particularly scare on points with Dani Pedrosa hardly featuring in the picks - only four of you had him on the podium at all, and only @rumblestrip as high as second. Elsewhere, he was mentioned but generally only as a crash statistic for a Minella. The full results are now published.

As a result, the top score last week was a meagre 4 points. All of the top three punters were Hayden stalwarts and picked up three points for their Nicky Minella (remember that name if you ever have kids @daveminella!) and a single point for their podium predictions. Congratulations to @bonadjalins, @harleymac1, and @danzero: you all win a copy of Ring of Fire. Details of how to claim your prize at the end of this post.

I also have a prize for the most inventive Minella at Laguna. Honorable mentions go to @johnchapin and @leighberwick who really pushed the boat out with mentions of vomit on the racing line and the degree to which Edwards would strip if he won the race (just half-way ladies!). In the end though, I was unable to separate the top two entrants: @pintoffuc and @daveminella: you both win a copy of Ring of Fire. Here are their entries in all their glory:

@pintoffuc: Hayden above 8th, Melandri below 6th, Vermeulen above Capirossi, Gibernau last, Pedrosa overtakes 1 or + at the start, Lorenzo loses 1 or + at the start, At the end Rossi and Dovizioso wheelie on finish line, Lorenzo stand-up wheelies on finish line and then shakes left fist. Lorenzo sets his flag on Turn 5 and Rossi climbs podium left-foot first.

Chosen for the mix of finish position, start stats, celebration predictions and even which foot first on the podium.

@DaveMinella: In 2008, there were four different manufacturers in the top four spots. This will not happen in 2009.
None of the top four finishers will be from the same country.
There will be at least two crashes. None will occur on the same lap. All will be single-bike incidents.
There are five riders who’ve ridden in all four Laguna races since 05 (Hayden, Edwards, Melandri, Capirossi, Rossi). They all will finish the race.

Chosen for the depth of research done to support the Minella, the use of manufacturer positions and the idea of the delta on last year’s race.

If you are one of the lucky winners, please use Twitter to direct message @motogpblog with your email address. I’ll then contact you directly to sort out the delivery of your prize.