Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

the gap impressively. By two-thirds-distance, Checa was almost in a position to challenge Doohan. The Australian had other ideas. "The race pace was slower than I expected, but I couldn't find a way past Max and I thought I might really have to stick it up inside of him towards the finish," Doohan said. "But after 20 laps he started to fade a little, and in the end I didn't have to 'do that." On the 22nd lap, DOQhan outbraked Biaggi cleanly at the end of the pit straight, and moved slowly but steadily ahead to claim victory. Biaggi's bad gearing choice was costing him dearly, especially as tire wear robbed him of grip. This gave the onform Checa his chance, and he took it with five laps remaining, using a better drive to blow past down the straight. Biaggi said later that he'd been stuck momentarily in third gear at the time, bouncing off the top of the rev ceiling, which meant he was unable to fight back. At the finish, Checa was just over 2.6 seconds 'behind Doohan, and Biaggi less than two seconds behind him. Criville had gotten ahead of the ailing Kocinski before half-distance, but had to work hard to stay there. Naturally, he was thrilled to finish fourth after -qualifying 17th. "The problem was myself," he said. "1 lacked confidence during practice. It's a matter of working on concentrating for the fuJI weekend." Kagayama was thrilled with sixth, but felt he could have been higher still if he'd started better. His lap times bore it out: He held station five-odd seconds behind the group in front all through the race. A long way behind, Norihiko Fujiwara brought his BP Yamaha home safely - the only Yamaha to make it all the way to the end. After another big gap came Dee-Cee Jeans rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh on the first V-twin Honda - a good effort, holding off Ralf Waldmann's Modenas all the way to cross the line better than. three seconds ahead. Garry McCoy's Shell V-twin Honda was another eight secOltds down, the Australian confessing afterward that he was completely exhausted. Well behind came Kenny Roberts Jr. on his ill-handling Modenas. He'd dropped to last in the closing stages, but fought back past the V-twins of Sebastien Gimbert and Matt Wait by the flag. What of the rest? There were many tales of woe. Crafar, Okada and Barros had not finished the first lap, falling victim to cement dust laid thickly on the chicane where the track was threatening to break up. Abe and Gibernau had crashed after engine seizures. Nobuatsu Aoki was knocked off into the dirt on lap one by Okada. He' regained the track in last place, only to . cras h two la ps la ter while trying too hard to make up lost time. South African wild card Russell Wood crashed out on lap two; Borja and his V-twin Honda did likewise on lap 11. Only one of the 10 retirements, Fabio Carpani, broke down rather than crashing. Biaggi retained the title lead with 41 points. Checa has 28, Criville 26, with Suzuka nonfinisher Doohan fourth with 25, and Okada with 20. 250cc GRAND PRIX Jacque got the holeshot on the Honda.but, by the time they reached the end of the first lap, the marvelous Valentino Rossi's Aprilia was in front and charging. Jacque unwittingly helped him, delaying the pursuit so that he had a cusion of more than a second by the time Harada moved relentlessly through to second on lap eight from 11 th on the first lap. The Japanese former champion closed steadily on the young upstart up front, but this was not to be a two-man race, because Ukawa had now also found his way past Jacque, and also closed the gap rapid!y. It all changed about on lap 13, with Harada finding his way inside Rossi, only for both to be overtaken a couple of corners later by Ukawa. From then on, the Aprilia riders let the Honda man do all the work, and though Ukawa led from then until two laps to the end, he had first Harada and then Rossi breathing uncomfortably down the back of his neck all the way. Afterward, Ukawa praised his tires (he is the only front-runner on Michelins) and suspension, but made a typically guarded comment that he needed (Above left) Max Biaggi (6), Mick Doohan (1) and Norick Abe (5) fought for the lead in the early stages of the race before Doohan (below) was able to pull clear to victory - his first of the year. (Above) Doohan celebrates his win. The Australian is now fourth in the SOOcc World Championship point standings. "a bit more engine power." This was plain to see. On lap 27, Rossi just motored past him on the back straight, and on the next lap Harada did the same. . The stage was set for a battle through the last turns, and though Rossi's advantage had looked fairly strong at the start of the lap, Harada again clo ed relentlessly. The key passage carne a few corners from the finish, Harada said later, when Rossi glanced over his shoulder and inadvertently slowed slightly. It was only a little, but it was enough for the older rider to overcome his heat fatigue and mount a devastating attack into the last comer. Rossi may even have been ahead as they turned in, but Harada had the inside line - and the race in his pocket. He stuck to his guns, and so did Rossi, but the latter's position was hopeless. He said later: "Looking back now, I should have settled for second. But when you have ridden a race like that, you have to try to win. I have no regrets." What happened was spectacular. He tried to ride around the outside, but when he opened the throttle - off line and on a dirty part of the track - the bike pun around and spat him viciously over the high side. Harada's win was already assured. Ukawa - 1.2 seconds back - could hardly believe his luck as his third became second. Third-placed Jacque counted himself even more fortunate to make the rostrum. All race long he'd been battling bad suspension and tire performance, and had dropped fully 12 seconds behind the leaders. Another battling group came in behind, with Haruchika Aoki - onetime ~ghost rider" of the 125cc class - doing it again, moving unobtrusively through to head the gang across the line for fourth on the FCC Honda. By now, practicesession injury victim Loris Capirossi had lost touch slightly behind him, the

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