Mike, this is the one thing I take away from this weekend! Absolutely spot on. And it’s the one thing that bodes well for Stoner and bad for Lorenzo in terms of the championship. Its this that I was describing when I said it appeared to me Lorenzo's race strategy was to let Stoner come to him, a faulty strategy. That's what it looked like to me from the comfort of my well worn chair at least. Its probably not something a Stoner fan may want to hear, that is, pointing out that Lorenzo's lack of race strategy may play into Stoner's hands since a Stoner fan wants him to win unbothered; but for a spectator like me who's allegiance is not vested in either Lorenzo nor Stoner (I'm awed by both their riding), I want to see a race dual between two titans. I’ve been harsh on Rossi, mainly for his arrogance of words, but seeing this weekend's race, there is no way VR would have got within a tenth and not attempted something, its this that I realized I missed. Lorenzo may not have many opportunities to bother Stoner's pace throughout the season, and missing the opportunity at Jerez and more clearly at Estoril may haunt him as the season goes on. Unless he is willing to challenge Stoner here and there by showing him a wheel, Stoner will be happy to let him come a near second place. I know people will respond to this, as the site has gone decidedly anti-Rossi with the same rigor as it was once anti-Stoner. Perhaps Lorenzo didn't want to risk this or that, and they actually might be right in part, but race strategy isn't only going as fast as you can, but also may include tactics of challenging and pressuring when your pace isn't going to cut it (within reasonable tactics of course).
