Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ROAD RACE WoridChal11pionship Road Race series were still okay, because of the perfect setup we had found. lt was my chance." . Fighting his way past an unwilling Jacque, he once again forced his way almost violently past an equally reluctant Biaggi with a forceful move at the last chicane, and then moved ahead convincingly to win by two clear seconds. Jacque was second, Biaggi third as they started the last lap; then, while the Frenchman escaped up front, the worksbike rookie succumbed to what he later admitted had been "a red fire." He pushed inside Biaggi a t the horseshoe curve, and thought he'd done enough, only for the black Aprilia to return the compliment at the top of th.e hill again. His heart sank, only to recover once more as the world champion fumbled the tricky leap over the inside of the curb at the final chicane. Hardly believing his luck, he moved through to lead through the final comer and past the flag, the disconsolate Biaggi slowing at the finish, knowing he was beaten. It broke a run of 17 consecutive rostrum finishes, which was bringing him toward the record of 22 and 20 held by Giacomo Agostini and Jim Redman. "Ago can sleep soundly now,1I he said. Biaggi had ridden without painkiUers, and said later: ''I'm happy that I finished and got some points, because it wasn't at all easy. n1e Aprilia wasn't so good today - the Hondas seem to work well here." Jacque's teammate Jean-Philippe Ruggia had dropped off the back of this early on to play his part in a good fight some way behind the leaders. ~nitially this saw Nobuatsu Aoki take the leading role, Luis d' Anfin's Honda behind. Then, as the Michelin-shod Japanese rider slowed to fall way behind, the impressive Italian rookie Luca Boscoscuro's private Aprilia moved up among the NSR Hondas. D' Antin was fifth, then Boscoscuro and Ruggia, the last-named with his now familiar grumble that his Honda somehow didn't seem to be as good as all of the others. Five seconds away came Frenchman Regis Laconi, who had somehow lost the lower half of his fairing in the first-corner scrimmage without actually slowing down very much, and had then ridden resolutely through from 23rd on lap one past some famous names to take eighth on a "naked bike," which made rather an attractive sight. Migliorati was ninth after another strong ride on his private Honda, finishing .a second ahead of Ukawa's works bike. Aoki was 11th by the end; then, somewhat spaced out, came the Aprilias of Eskil Suter and Olivier l'etrucciani, with Hatakeyama (Honda) fending off Boudinot for the final point. Marlboro Rainey's Tetsuya Harada had another lamentable day. Never higher than 11th, he then lost one cylinder with a suspected ignition failure, and pitted for a no-score. "Team morale is pretty low right now," admitted his boss Wayne Rainey. "But Tetsuya will go home now to relax, and we'll continue to give of our best." Waldmann reduced Biaggi's leading margin slightly, with 126 points to the Italian's 174. Harada is third on 97; Fuchs moved to fourth with 83. 125cc GRANO PRIX The tine through ilie chicane was crucial in the 125cc race - to cut, or not to cut. For ilie first 19 laps, Masaki Tokudome went around the long way, while a brawling pack of seven other riders snapping at his back wheel all leaped up Round 8: German Grand Prix inside him across the concrete. Oddly enough, they didn't seem to gain any advantage, and the Japanese rider stayed ahead every time. Then he suddenly lost four places there, promptly regaining two of iliem before the next bend and pouncing on the demonically aggressive teenager Valentino Rossi's Aprilia halfway round the next lap. Now he had only Stefano Perugini ahead, and the Italian was to act as his guide. . Toku-san admitted later the only reason why he wasn't taking the shortcut was because he hadn't practiced the route: "When Stefan passed me - now I could go the same way." It was enough Juergen Lingg (1:48.0]0); 26. Christian Boudinot (1:48.020); 27. Sete Gibernau (1,48.085); 28. Alexander Folge, (H8.S39); 29. Matthias Neukirchen (1 :49.055); 30. Sebastian Po,co (1:49.154); 31. A. Antonello (H9267); 32. Jose Barresi (151.198) . SOOec QUALlFYING: 1. Alex Criville .(1'40.347); 2. Mich.el Doohan (NO.386); 3. Scott Russell (1:41.078); 4. Doriano Romboni (1,41.512); 5. Kenny Roberts j,. (1,41.9OS); 6. Luea Cadalora (1:42.022); 7. Terry Rymer (1:42.067); 8. Shinichi ltoh (U2.393); 9. Alex Barros (1:42.402); 10. Norifumi AQe (H2.690); 11. )eancMichel Bayle (1'42.726); 12. Tadayuki Okada (I :42.782); 13. Carlos Checa (1:42.963); 14. Loris Capirossi (1'43.009); 15. juan Bo'ja (1,43.167); 16. Alberto Puig (1:43.383); 17. Lucio Pedercini (1:44.197); 18. Michael Ruclroff (L44.236); 19. Frederic Protat (1:44.937); 20. Jeremy McWilliams (1:45.002); 21. Eugene McManus (1'46.610); 22. Laurent Naveau (1,47.320); 23. Florian Ferracci (1:48.905); 24. Adrian Bosshard (]:49.731); 25. Niggi Schmassman (Above) Doohan (left) and Cadalora (right) celebrate on the winner's rostrum after the 500cc GP. (Left) Frenchman Oliver Jacque (19) leads the 250cc Grand Prix into the first corner with Max Blaggl (1), Jurgen Fuchs (11) and eventual race winner Ralf Waldmann (3) In hot pursuit. to give him back the advantage on the final lap for his third win of the year. Perugini was three-tenths behind, then (surprise, surprise) came defending champion Harachuki Aoki, who typically had hung around the back of the group before making a well-timed run at the finish. A1zamora came next, then the thrill-aminute Rossi, and then Assen injury victim Oettl, after a stirring home GP at a race he had not even expected to start. He'd qualified 23rd, and stormed through to catch the leaders and move as high as third. Jorge Martinez was seventh with Tomomi Manako a second behind, both having lost touch with the leaders only in the closing laps. Noboru Veda was 12th in a brave ride, after suffering a concussion and multiple bruising when he was the innocent victim of a very fast crash in practice. Aoki's title lead was slightly reduced, at 146 points to Tokudome's 100. Perugini and Alzamora are equal with 94, with Manako with 85. • f~ Nurburgring Nurburg, Germany Results: July 7, 1996 (Round 8 of 15) 12Scc QUALIFYING, 1. jo'ge Marlinez (1:49.984); 2. Haruchika Aoki (1 :49.916); 3. Masaki Tokudome (1:50.005); 4. Valentino Rossi (1:50.104); 5. Tomomi Manako (1:50.108); 6. Stefano Perugini (1:50.271); 7. Emilio Alzamo'fa (1=50.841); 8. Noboru Ueda (1:50.924); 9. Dirk Raudies (1:51..100); 10. HerTi Torrontegui (151.360); 11. Ga1

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