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Marco Melandri: hospital to rostrum

22/07/07

By David Miller

Slightly predictably, given this weekend's dominant performance, Casey Stoner won today's USGP at Laguna Seca by a massive 10-second margin from Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen - but hero of the day award must go to Marco Melandri who stood on the podium just 24 hours after being in hospital.

The Gresini Honda rider was involved in a 100mph collision with Kurtis Roberts during yesterday's second free practice and was treated by Dr Costa for hand and leg injuries. Remarkably, he even returned to the fray in qualifying later in the day.

Starting from 10th on the grid, Melandri avoided the near-pile up into turn one, got past Colin Edwards in two laps and then plugged away with consistent, fast lap times until he caught and passed his friend and compatriot Valentino Rossi.

Melandri managed to stay ahead and put some time into Rossi before catching and passing Dani Pedrosa, whose Michelins had seriously given up the ghost. He crossed the line with a more than deserved third.