As predicted by just about everybody, Casey Stoner won the Chinese GP with
another display of Ducati top-end power on the three-quarter mile straight, but he was made to work hard for his third win in four races this year. Valentino Rossi and John Hopkins both rode superb races to keep the Aussie honest. Sure Casey never failed to retake on the straight what he lost ion the

All three had reason to be thankful they qualified well because there was another first-lap pile-up. This time it came at Turn One's second apex and was precipitated by Toni Elias's highly optimistic lunge from twelfth on the grid. He crashed, punted Alex Barros and sent Nicky Hayden on a wild ride across the grass. Fortunately, Nicky found a bit of tarmac to brake on just as it looked as if he might career back across the track in the path of the pack. Nicky was hit hard enough to dent his swingingarm and rip his rear fender. He then had a lonely and frustrated ride for just four points. When he was informed that Elias was saying he braked too early, Nicky came very close to forgetting his good manners but restrained himself from commenting. I told him what Barros had said: 'Toni come very crazy,' which sums it up nicely.

tricky first half of the lap but he too rode a great race at a pace that surprised all three of the rostrum men: no one thought they could run in the low two-minute flat bracket all race but that's what they did. Rossi could have sat back behind Stoned and accepted second place as the young Aussie ran yet another near-perfect race but instead he wanted 'to push, to play, to fight with him.'

All three had reason to be thankful they qualified well because there was another first-lap pile-up. This time it came at Turn One's second apex and was precipitated by Toni Elias's highly optimistic lunge from twelfth on the grid. He crashed, punted Alex Barros and sent Nicky Hayden on a wild ride across the grass. Fortunately, Nicky found a bit of tarmac to brake on just as it looked as if he might career back across the track in the path of the pack. Nicky was hit hard enough to dent his swingingarm and rip his rear fender. He then had a lonely and frustrated ride for just four points. When he was informed that Elias was saying he braked too early, Nicky came very close to forgetting his good manners but restrained himself from commenting. I told him what Barros had said: 'Toni come very crazy,' which sums it up nicely. As has now become customary, Casey Stoner said he wasn't riding at the limit and had 'lots left' on the last six laps - the ones after Rossi had made his mistake. Rossi was happy with his bike, happy with his Michelins and happy that he had found ?the best way to lose.' Twenty points from this track, he surmised, was not a bad return. The only thing he kept referring to was the problem he's had in Turkey. The man who probably had reason to be happiest was John Hopkins, who finally got on the rostrum after so many fourth places and crashing while trying too hard. The Suzuki is coming good, as are its Bridgestone tyres, and Hopper put together a superb weekend. He was fast from the very first session, was mentioned after qualifying by Rossi as one of the two men he feared on Sunday, and rode an aggressive but controlled race. It was obviously an a emotional moment for John - he dedicated the result ot his late father: 'This one goes out to my dad, he was watching us.'

After which I felt suitably guilty for being rude during my TV commentary about his fashionable eyewear--he has a new contract with super-hip Italian shades company Spy. John gave me the pair he wore on the rostrum and they can be yours for a suitably generous donation to Riders for Health (details to follow).