Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127942
By Michael Scott Photos by Gold & Goose JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA, SPAIN, MAY 3 hree races with three different winners is proof enough of a major revival in 500cc Grand Prix racing. The fact that this time it was Alex Criville in front, after a fierce battle with Repsol Honda teammate Mick Doohan, is proof that the faith of the home-nation fans can achieve plenty. Under the adoring gaze of 120,000 fans, Criville produced a storming ride, the first time he has ridden aggressively since he was badly injured in practice for the Dutch GP last year - perhaps the first since he won the race here last year. The message was clear: Alex Cri ville is back. "1 want to dedicate this win to my father, who died last February," he said. "I'm really pleased, because now the bike is working well after all the problems we had in the first two races. There was a lot of pressure on me for the last lap, because 1 knew Mick was right behind me and could come past me at any moment." As for Doohan, second was the best he could achieve after battling suspension problems Ulroughout two days of practice. He eventually qualified fifth, the first time he has not been on the front row in 30 races. The four-time World Champion led for much of today's race and firmly resisted Criville's first attempt at overtaking. In the end, however, his suspension and consequent tire problems meant he had to be satisfied with a close second. "1 really enjoyed that race," he said afterward. "There were a couple of places in the closing laps where 1 could have tried to stuff it inside him, but my front grip wasn't good, and 1 didn't want to risk bringing him down as well in one of our famous double acts, as we've done before." (A kindly remark, since it was Alex who did it to Mick, in Australia in 1997.) The pair were pressed all the way by Japanese GP winner Max Biaggi and his Marlboro Honda, who finished less than a half-second behind Doohan and held on to the World Championship lead. The first Utree crossed the line within less than a second, while fourth-placed Carlos Checa and his Movistar Honda were less than two more seconds adrift. Hondas still dominated, with Alex Barros fifth, fending off Rainey Yamaha's Norick Abe and Repsol Honda's Tadayuki Okada over the line. Slow starter Nobuatsu Aoki came through for a lonely eighth on the factory Suzuki. Another revival of the weekend came from Team Roberts, whose Modenas triples put their slow start to the season behind them with strong performances in qualifying. Threatened race-day rain stayed away, which scotched any hopes of a really good result, but ninth and 10th from Kenny Roberts JI. and Rail Waldmann represented a revival of fortunes - especially since they finished ahead of several V-fours, including 11th-placed World Superbike Champion John Kocinski. Earlier, Aprilias had dominated the 250cc GP, with Loris Capirossi starting from an all-Aprilia front row to take his first win since 1994. Nastro Azzurro Aprilia's Valentino Rossi was a close second, while the Hondas were left to dispute a distant third after early leader Tetsuya Harada pulled into the pits dramaticallyon the second lap. Third went to Chesterfield Honda's