Lorenzo doubles his groove at Monster Energy Catalan MotoGP

Rossi bounced from Catalan hero in 2016 to zero with technical troubles twelve months ago. The pendulum swung again for #46 who got back in the champagne spray. “I’m happy for this podium because in this track last year we struggled very much,” he said, relieved. “…was one of the worst races in the season.” Marquez and Bezzecchi also made the box in Moto2 & Moto3.

High on the Montmelo hillside dwarfing the back straight of the circuit, the Monster Energy Beach Compound threw out music vibes, waves to surf, back-flipping bicycle stunts and a fat big-screen display that allowed fans to achieve the difficult job of sitting on the edge of their deckchairs for MotoGP. Racers like Kurt Busch and Adam Cianciarulo hung out nearby in the paddock and the sun beat down with early summer abandon.

One athlete at the centre of it all was Cal Crutchlow. When not pushing the limits of his LCR Honda to fourth position the Brit was able to offer some perspective on the unique atmosphere of the Catalunya chase.

“I have friends who come to this race and they go up to the Monster rig and they don't leave it all weekend!” #35 smiled. “I’m not saying they don't care about the racing, they see it from the side of the track but they’ll just stay there and party all weekend. Monster put on a good show. I have been a Monster athlete now for eleven years and I am their longest two-wheeled athlete.”

“I think Monster is a little bit of me: crazy now and again,” Crutchlow added.

Until Brno and the Czech Republic Grand Prix in August MotoGP will hold on for more of the same. And now - from hip to history - MotoGP moves to arguably the most iconic of Grand Prix in a fortnight. TT Assen will fill the north of Holland with thousands of thousands of motorcyclists and drag the 2018 campaign closer to the midway stage.