Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

.ROAD RACE World ChaJllpionShip RoadRa~ Series .. Round 11: Czech Republic Grand Prix Scott Russell (11) led the way in the Czech Republic SOOcc Grand Prix, despite starting from row three. The Georgian leads Michael Doohan (1), Jean-Michel Bayle (12) and Alex Barros (7) early in the GP. By Michael Scott Photos by Gold & Goose BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC, AUG. 18 lex Criville's second successive defeat of Repsol Honda teammate Michael Doohan could L L hardly have been narrower. After 74 miles of close racing, and a last lap where they changed places three times, it took a photo finish to separate them. The difference was only two-thousandths of a second, the closest 500cc GP finish since electronic timekeeping was introduced in 1990, and possibly ever (a hand-timed dead heat at Assen in 1975 was awarded in favor of Barry Sheene over Giacomo Agostini). It was close enough to leave both riders in doubt on the slowdown lap; and to bring forth a roar of excitement from those of the 70,OOO-strong crowd within sight of the giant TV screen. It was close enough for shy guy Criville to say after the race, "I think I was a little lucky to get him out of the last corner." And it was close enough to leave Doohan far from happy. "It's very disappointing to be beaten like that. Alex can follow me, but he can't get out in front and do it on his own," he said obviously forgetting that he'd employed similar stalk-and-pounce, last-corner tactics himself at Jerez this year. Doohan's frustration was understandable. He'd ridden a well-judged race until then, trailing early leader Scott Russell's Lucky Strike Suzuki while Criville picked his way ·through from a slow start, taking the lead as his vanquisher in Austria caught up, letting the Spaniard lead for the middle part of the race, then turning up the wick for the last t.hi.rd of the race, in front again. Even when Criville came through on the inside - with both wheels sliding on the final tour, Doohan's corner line was better, and he moved straight back ahead. The Spaniard, however, is a changed man since his win in Austria. He didn't give up, and moved alongside and half a tire's width. ahead in the sprint out of the last comer It was a thrilling climax to a superb 500cc race - by far the best of the day as the premier class in bike racing moves back from a two-year slump toward booming good health. RusselYs brilliant start to lead from the third row of the grid had begun the excitement, while th,ere was a huge pack of V-fours and Tadayuki Okada's Vtwin Honda locked in battle for most of the race for' fourth. The place went to front-row qualifier Kenny Roberts Jr., who moved through from 10th on lap one to challenge Russell in the closing stages. Earlier in a day when rain that had diSrupted practice stayed ay;ay, Chesterfield Aprilia rider Max Biaggi had made an emphatic return to the dominant form that already has given him a commanding points lead, running away with the 250cc Grand Prix. Works bike' rookie Olivier Jacque on the Chesterfield Elf Aprilia was second, easing.ahead of a fierce battle for the last rostrum place, narrowly won by HB Honda rider Ralf Waldmann from impressive Brno first-timer Tohru Ukawa on the Benetton Honda and his own teammate Jurgen Fuchs. AGV Aprilia's Valentino Rossi narrowly defeated four-time champion Jorge Martinez in the 125cc class to claim his first-ever GP win. At 17, he is almost exactly hAlf the age of his rival, who turns 34 in a week Rossi is only the seconcLson of a former GP winner to emulate his father - Graziano Rossi was a winner in the 1970s. Previously, Alberto and Nello Pagani had been the only winning father-son combination. French Honda rider William Costes won a close Thunderbike race from Stephan Mertens and Eric Mahe, and also secured the championship with one round remaining. Jeffrey de Vries was a close fifth. On Saturday, Rolf Biland won a raindrenched sidecar race by miles, but fourth place was good enough for Briton Darren Dixon to secure his second successive World' ChampionShip. SOOcc GRAND PRIX This one was a little different right from the start, as Russell weaved and barged his way through from the third row to follow Doohan into the first corner, then lead him into the .second. He had done something similar in Austria, but that only lasted a few hundred yards. "It seems I'm better starting from behind - but then I've had a lot of practice," he said later with a grin. Doohan was close, with Jean-Michel Bayle and Alex Barros behind at the end of lap one, the former to drop back as he came close to crashing on sliding tires, the latter to play an influential part in the race as he delayed the pursuit. Criville was seventh at this stage, behind Luca Cadalora, but the Italian only lasted one more lap before cruising into the pits yet again, his bike running perfectly but rear-wheel chatter preventing him from feeling happy enough to race it. An extraordinary man. By the time the notably determined eriville had broken through the Barros barrier, Doohan also had nipped past RusselL He later praised the American's riding, saying "He was smooth and he wasn't holding me up at·a1L" Russell responded, "It's been so long since I led a race that perhaps I needed someone like Mick to show me how!' The mut;ual admiration ended on lap eight/when Criville joined the party. He passed Russell cleanly, though the Suzuki hung on close behind as the familiar Repsol Honda battle began again. Criville took the lead for the first time on the ninth lap, and held it until the 15th. Then Doohan moved ahead once again. "I couldn't get away, so I

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