2009 season review: Alex de Angelis

Gresini kept faith with Alex de Angelis after a tough 2008 ended in a 14th-placed finish, and in 2009 the rider finished 8th with almost double the amount of points (111) he had scored the year before.

Whilst his 2010 future remains undecided De Angelis experienced a season of two distinct halves this year, with a first premier class podium coming at Indianapolis in the latter part.

The season got off to a promising start with sixth place from ninth on the grid in Qatar, but De Angelis came in for some criticism for the manner in which he overtook Dani Pedrosa in the race, touching with the Repsol Honda man.

From there, a series of seven results followed which saw De Angelis make a top-ten finish just once, at Assen, as he struggled for competitiveness.

The change came with a fifth-placed finish in Germany and fourth at Donington. Second behind Jorge Lorenzo at Indianapolis helped De Angelis accumulate a set of solid displays and also delivered his only podium of the year.

A mistake on the first lap of his home GP at San Marino led to a crash which took out both Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden and was followed by another DNF at Estoril, but De Angelis bounced back with fourth place at Phillip Island as he once again showcased his undoubted talent ahead of the 2010 season.