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When I am pretty sure of a gentleman’s bet, I will often gamble a testicle to show how confident I am in my wager.  If someone would have bet me a couple of months back that Nicky Hayden would be out in front (almost WAY out in front) with the season almost half over, my purse would be half-full (or half empty for you pessimists) right now.  Who knew?

I also want to know if anyone has sent Colin Edwards a care package?  Is he on suicide watch?  OK - all joking aside, there were three yankess out in front for quite some time.  Hopper dropped off as usual, but Hayden and Edwards gapped the rest of the group.  I like Edwards.  I have been following him off and on from when he was #45 on an RC30 back in the day.  That said, I was rooting for Hayden.

If it was anyone else chasing Edwards, I would have been in Colin’s court.  But Nicky has a chance to win…not just the race, but the championship.  At this point in my puny little world, that’s what matters.  It is a winner take all series.  Win / Lose / Draw, Edwards is out of the points race.  Don’t get me wrong, that is not how I wanted to see the race end, I’m just saying that I am glad Nicky won overall.

I also have to give a golf-clap to Rossi, Melandri, and Capirossi for gutting out the injuries.  Where was Gibernau?  Probably where I would be if I were him - home with his wife!

This season has been the best racing season I have ever watched of any type of sporting event.  Several times I have been on the edge of my couch with my heart pounding during the last laps, and this race finish was no different.  And thank God for DVR’s that can rewind again and again!

I am amazed that Edwards had the speed (read: balls) to catch up the Hayden after his off-road excursion with only 2 laps to go.  I wonder if he learned a new limit - I could see the “WTF I’m going for it” thought bubble over his head.  I wonder if he’s got any mo’ going into the friendly territory of Donnington Park.

I remember thniking to myself “Just don’t lay it down - second is cool” regarding Hayden.  Heck, Capirossi and Melandri were back-markers and Rossi was only mid-pack.  It’s about the point baby.  Then I saw Edwards go off roading and sat back in the couch a little thinking it was over.  Then I got back on the edge when Edwards was damn near along side Hayden with one lap to go.  Edwards made a great pass and I thought Hayden was going to throw it into the gravel immediately following trying to regain the lead.  Then on the second to last turn when Hayden went off-roading I thought NOOOOOOOOOO!.  Then I saw Edwards cart-wheeling.  Then I saw Hayden’s bike fishtail and just make it onto the track again.  Then Hayden won.

Nicky Hayden: “It was a wild one today and I definitely enjoyed it it’s just a really good day for me. I’m proud to win for Repsol Honda and really proud to score Honda’s 200th win in the top class of Grand Prix too. At the end of the race I felt really good and really strong. Going into the last chicane he was going in so deep so I used a move I used on Hopkins earlier in the race. Honestly it wasn’t going to work and I caught neutral, but he ran off the track too.”

That’s how it happened from my house.  I couldn’t help feel bad for Edwards.  Maybe second place was better.  Maybe not of he learned something new.

The race was a great spectacle, but my favorite part of that hour had mothing to do with the race itself.  Not Hayden, Edwards, or Rossi.  My oldest daughter (all of 3.5 years old) walked up to me and said “I want to sit on daddy’s lap and watch motorcycles on TV”.   That was a great hour.