This was the contest that MotoGP had been waiting for. A Gladiatorial fight between the two best riders’ in the world and it finally happened at the Red Bull U.S Grand Prix at the iconic Laguna Seca circuit this afternoon when Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner went head to head in a fearsome fight. Throughout practice and qualifying Stoner and the Marlboro Ducati had the pace and Rossi knew if he had any chance in the 32 lap encounter round the 2.243 mile Californian track he had to upset the rhythm of the Australian World Champion.