MotoGP goes back-to-back this week, directly from a nice, orderly parade in the Netherlands to what is likely to be a dogfight in the hills of coastal California. This week’s venue is the storied Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, home of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. (We’re wondering how come Laguna gets the U.S. Grand Prix, while the IMS hosts the un- macho Indianapolis Grand Prix, but we digress.) And while Mr. Rossi is the clear favorite, and deservedly so, there’s little margin for error in Monterey, and there have been surprises here before. At the midpoint of the MotoGP season, the championship is still up for grabs – for now.
 At last year’s race, Rossi and defending champion Casey Stoner fought it out for twenty-some laps until Stoner laid his bike down, pushing too hard trying to keep up with The Doctor. By way of surprises, Chris Vermeulen placed his Rizla Suzuki on the podium in that one, despite having to pedal his underpowered ride up the 300-foot change in elevation on the hillside circuit… Details