Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

rear tire. He was the last rider on the same lap as the leaders. Lucio Pedercini won the privateer battle handsomely, finishing 12th, with IRTA cup victor Fred Protat 13th; then Andrew Stroud, riding in place of the injured James Haydon, and Toshi Arakaki taking the last point on the Paton. Stephane Mertens was another 13 seconds down, 16th and last. There was only one other crasher Abe, after a storming ride through to seventh from a bad start. He was devastated. The error cost him fourth overall in the championship to Barros. Russell retired after 17 laps. He'd got away well but was dropping back, and when temporary teammate Goddard moved way ahead, it was just too much to bear and he pulled in to the pits. "I felt like I was going to fall down everywhere - it was probably my mistake getting the setup wrong," Russell said. Neither of the Elf 500s finished. Juan Borja had engine trouble after opting to race the old-style pre-Big Bang engine; Wild Card Australian Martin Craggill was lying a strong 14th, but had to pull out with brake trouble. Laurent aveau was running last when he retired. The top three championship positions were already settled - Doohan 309, Criville 245 and Cadalora 168. Barros moved past Abe for fourth, 158-148, Russell was sixth on 133, just one point clear of Okada. 250cc GRAND PRIX Before the start, it looked certain to go Biaggi's way. After it, it was not so dear. The Italian led from the line, but Waldmann was tucked right up behind him and even showed his front wheel from time to time. Did Biaggi have a problem? Then came some puzzling tactics. The Aprilia was clearly faster down the straight, but at the end of the seventh lap Biaggi slowed to let the German through to the lead, tucking in close behind to take his turn at making threatening moves. What was he trying to do? . Then he moved firmly back in front in turn nine on the 10th lap, and they resumed their previous order. By now, Jacque had come through from a poor start to join in, but it was only a couple of laps before he started to drop away. "It wa a bit cooler today, and not only did my tires not work so well but the power delivery was also more aggressive," he said. It was only after 20 laps that Biaggi started to do what was expected, drawing gradually away from his title rival. "My bike was much better than in practice, but the front tire was losing grip, and there was nothing more 1 could do except wait for Max to make a mistake. That never happened," Waldmann said. Biaggi had time to pull wheelies and wave on the last lap, and still finish with 1.7 seconds in hand. "My tactics were a bit desperate today, but 1 was very motivated not to make any mistakes," the Italian said. "I slowed a little mid-race, but 1 had enough speed to get away at the end. It's been a difficult weekend - Waldmann rode very welL." Jacque was 18 seconds behind at the finish, but still seven seconds ahead of a race-long fight for fourth. Ukawa, HB Honda rider Jurgen Fuchs, JeanPhilippe. Ruggia (Chesterfield Elf Honda) and Nobuatsu Aoki (Rheos Honda) had been locked together since the fourth lap, changing places several times before finishing in that order with (Above) Doohan led the race until the final lap when Crlvllle collided with him trying to make a pass. Doohan remounted to finish eighth. (Right) Max Blaggl (1) and Ralf Waldmann (3) battled for most of the 250cc Grand Prix. Blaggl went on to win. Aoki losing touch only in the closing stages. Another 15 seconds behind, Luis d'Antin (MX Onda Honda) just held off Roberto Locatelli ( astro Azzurro Aprilia) with the Italian coming through strongly from a bad start. Another 12 seconds down came the survivors of what had at one stage been a seven-bike battle - Takeshi Tsujimura (FCC Honda) just ahead of Jurgen van den Goorbergh (MQP Honda) and Regis Laconi (Tecmas Honda). Locatelli had fought his way through them, Sete Gibernau (Marlboro Yamaha) crashed out on the 10th lap, and Davide Bulega (ltalia Aprilia) retired. Biaggi's third title came with a sixpoint lead - 274 to Waldmann's 268. Jacque was third on 193, Fuchs fourth on 174, with Ukawa moving past d'Antin for fifth, 142-138. Aoki moved ahead of non-starter Tetsuya Harada by one point, 105-104, then ~ame Ruggia in ninth at 91 and top privateer Luca Boscoscuro next at 62. 125cc GRAND PRIX Cepsa Honda's EmiHo Alzamora led off the line, but he didn't last too long. Overwhelmed by the pack, he was disputing the lead with McCoy, and was in front when he lost the front wheel at the right-hand kink before the finalleft-hander, sliding across the apex and narrowly escaping running back into the pack on the other side. It gave McCoy a moment's breathing space, with Martinez a little way b.ack heading Aoki, Sakata, Rossi, Cecchinello and Tokudome. But it didn't last, and a few short laps later, as Sakata slowed to retire, Aoki, Tokudome and Martinez were on him, with the first-named diving past for a short-lived lead' on the hairpin turn nine. From then to the finish, the four were locked in battle of the most dramatic sort. All but Martinez had a turn or two up front, with McCoy riding very forcefully to grab the lead back just as often. Over the line, Aoki led laps 13 to 16, Tokudome laps 21 to 25, but elsewhere it might as easily be someone else up front. It was hard to understand Aoki's tactics. He had no need to take risks - and it was a highly risky environment, with people side by side The last lap was a marvelous battle. Tokudome led into it, but McCoy took it all back in turn two, and stayed there to the finish. Aoki was on full charge, forcing through from fourth to second, with \Q 0\ ~ o~ C") ... .g .... Q) U o 7

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