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/127946
ROAD RACE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACE SERIES By Michael Scott Photos by Gold & Goose LE CASTELLET, FRANCE; MAY 31 here is a powerful body of opinion in racing that the 500cc two-strokes have had their day. Its proponents must have swallowed their tongues at the French GP, as they joined more than 45,000 spectators in the. sunny South of France to watch Alex Criville win a blazing race - by far the closest and best of the day. For the first third of the 31-lap French GP around the 2.36-mile Paul Ricard circuit, the first nine riders were absolutely nose to tail, the whole group covered by 2.5 seconds. As the race wore on, the group broke up, but there were still ~ 16 three gan s battling it out, and four riders contesting the lead. By the finish there were just three up front, trading blows right up to the last tight comer. They were so close tha t race favorite and pole starter Mick Doohan just couldn't find a way to get into an attacking position. Short of power due to c'lrburetion problems, he managed to push past longtime leader Carlos Checa into second on the very last corner, but by then it was too late to do anything about his Repsol Honda teammate. Criville's first win of the year gave him the championship lead - the first time a Spaniard has ever led the 500cc title chase. The trio was covered by less than half a second, with erstwhile companion John Kocinski hanging on to fourth, another six seconds behind. Earlier, the World Superbike champion had the best ride of his first year back in GPs, elbow-bashing with fifth-placed Max Biaggi to get right up with the leaders for a good spell. A little way back, returned ex-works rider Luca Cadalora (riding Jean-Michel Bayle's Rainey Yamaha for two races) prevailed over another close battle, beating erstwhile teammate Norick Abe and Suzuki's Nobu Aoki by fractions. of a second. It was Cadalora's first ride on a motorcycle in seven months. It was vintage 500cc racing at a track that hardly deserves it. The shortened and emasculated Ie Castellet circuit lived up to its other reputation as a 'dan- Alex Criville (4) leads Mlck Doohan (1), Carlos Checa (8) and the rest of the 500cc Grand Prix pack at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France. gerous track where riders get injured every year. This year's worst victim among 35 crashers was 125cc star Noboni Veda. Starling from pole position, the Japanese rider had his third crash of the weekend. This lime, his luck ran out. He tractured his right arm, severely damaging the radial nerve. A gloomy Dr. Costa said a nerve transplant would be necessary, and that he might recover by the end of the year. It was also possible, however, that he may lose the use of his right arm.