ROAD RACE
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
R AD R ESERIES
O AC
"I though t I could control Ca pirossi
and Harada, but in the end I didn't need
to," the jubilant 19-year-old said, his hair
dyed a vivid orange for the occasion.
Wa y back there was a big eight-bike
battle - a l r e a dy without Jacque and
Pe rugini after t h e i r c o ll ision on lap
seven.
At m id-distance, Takeshi Tsujimura's
Yamaha was in front o f the H ondas of
Tohru Ukaw a and Ao k i , two more
Yama has (those of Luis d' Antin and Jose
Luis Card oso), p rivate Honda rookie Jay
Vincen t, Se bastien Po rto's Aprilia and
Jurgen Fuchs on a si milar machine.
The racing was d es pera tely close a nd
w a s lead in g u p to a frightful last-la p
showdown until so me n a tura l th innin g
made th e go ing sligh tly easier. Card oso
crashed ou t with six laps left, breakin g
them u p som ew hat, while fro nt-row
starter Fuc hs picked his w ay through to
m o v e away ahead, A oki coming with
hi m to take third .
D' An tin led th e nex t gang of four,
which also included Uka wa , Porto a nd
Tsujimura. Vincent cl aimed another
good top-10 fini s h with eighth, five seco n ds away, but well clear o f the next
ga ng, w hich was led by Luca
Boscoscuro 's Honda.
McWi ll iams worked his wa y back
throu gh to 12th .
There were 21 fin is hers; the fas test
lap w ent to Harada when he was catching u p ; b u t Jacque' s 19 97 r e co r d
rem ain ed unbroken.
H a ra d a s till leads Capirossi in th e
point s tandings, 104-90, but Rossi catches right up on 85, pushing Ukawa a nd
his 73 points back to fourth, while A oki
displaces Jacqu e to cl aim fift h on 64
points.
125cc GRA ND PRIX
Kazuta Sakata sta rt ed fr om pole an d
took a n im mediate lead, and it seemed
he m ight ac hie ve the dreamed-of breakaway a s Ma s aki Tokud ome, Mi rko
Giansanti and Lucio Cecchinello ba tt led
over th e le ad o f a huge pack, s lo w in g
each other d ow n .
Me la ndri, just 15 years old, had other
ideas, and he quickly found his way in to
Round 7: Dutch Grand Prix
second to start worki ng o n a gap that
was still around a half-second.
He was on Saka ta's back wheel by
lap s ix and the pair of the gradually
drew away , inches apart.
It all came down to th e last lap, a nd
though Sakata fo ug h t back after
Melandri 's first attack, the seco nd w as
- timed perfectly for th e run into the final
chi ca n e , and t h e teena ger did it ju s t
right to lead his rival o v er the line by
less than .030 of a second .
But Sakata did h a v e his champio ns hi p lead to think about, and seco nd
place was enough to stretch that still
further.
M an a ko's third ca me after a n a mazing ride through a fter finishing lap one
i n 14 t h p la ce . He caug h t th e p u rsuit
pack with o nly o ne la p left, an d by th e
end of it he had pass ed four rid er s to
lead Cecchinello, Toku dome, Ciansanti,
Roberto Loc atelli and Fred Petit ac ross
th e line by inc hes:
Sakata n ow h a s 131 p oin ts , with
Melandri and Ma nako equal o n 97, an d
hi s next rivals, Cecchinello and Masao
Azuma, on 66 and 65, re spectivel y.
f~
Dutch Gra nd Prix
Assen, Holland
Results: June 27, 199B
12Scc QUALlFYll'\G: 1. Kazuto Sakata <2:13
.411); 2.
Ma sa k i Tok u dome (2:14.473); 3 . To mom i M a na ko
(2:14 .659); 4. Mir k o Cia nsan ti (2 :14 .728); 5. Ma s a o
Az u ma (2:14.729 ); 6 . Marco Me lan d r i (2:14.854 ); 7.
Ro be rt o Lo ca te lli (2 :14 .939); 8. Luci o Cecch inel!o
(2 :15 .049 ); 9 . Iva n Coi (2:15.438); 10. Steve [enkner
(2:15.547>; 11. Arnaud Vincent (2:15.602) ; 12. Frederic
Petit (2:15.629); 13. Youichi Vi (2;15.712); 14. Gi no Borsoi
(2;15.725); IS. Hiro yu ki Kikuch i (2:15.877); 16. Gianluigt
Sca lv in i (2:15.892) ; 17. Jeronimo Vida l (2:16.64 4); 18.
Emilio A lzamora (2: 16. 65 3 ); 19 . Federico Cerroni
(2:1b.813 ); 20 . Angel Nieto Jr . (2: 16.892); 21. Iaroela v
HuI", (2;17.124); 22. Yoshiaki Keech (2;17.420l; 23. Juan
Maturana (2:17..505); 24. Andrea lommi (2:19.218) ; 25.
Hans Koop man (2:2 0.5 65); 26 . Christian Manna
(2:20.767); 27. Wil helm Van Leeuwen (2:22 .2 10); 28.
Harold De Haan (2:22.513).
· 12Scc GRAND PRIX: 1. Mar co Melandri (Hon ); 2.
Kazuto Saka ta (A p r ); 3. Tomom i Manak o (Hon ): 4.
Lucio Cecchincllo (Hen): 5. Masa ki Tok udomc (A p r); 6.
Mirko Giensanti (Hon); 7. Ro be rt Loca telli (Hon): 8.
Frederic Peti t (Ho n): 9. Ste ve Ie nkncr (Apr); 10. Masao
Az u ma (H o n ): 11. Cino Bo rso l (Apr); 12. Youichi Vi
(Yam); 13. Hiroyuki Kikuchi (Hen): 14. Iva n Go i (A p r);
15.j.l.l'O!Ol.w Hules (Hon); 16. Arna ud Vincent (A pr): 17.
Angel N iet o Jr . (Ap r); 18. Federico Cerroni (A p r); 19.
Juan Mat u ran a (Ya m); 20 . Jeron im o Vida l (Apr); 21.
An d rt.-.l Io m m i (Hon); 22. Ha ns Koopman (Han ); 23 .
W ilh elm Van Leeu w en (Hon) ; 24 . H a ro ld De H olan
(Ho n); 25. YOl' iaki Kato h (Yam) ; 26. C ian Juigi Scalvini
h
(Ho n); 27. Ch ristian Man na (Yam) .
Ti me: 38 min ., 27.391 St>C.
Brieflv...
-
·Luca Cadatora has quit the Suzuki tea m aher just one of two
planned .rides. The Italian. who joined after a strong performance
at testing at Barcelona. was slated to race the bike at Doningion
Par k as well. But he was unhappy with the bike 's handling at
Assen and said. -I need to .tes t the bike away from a race to
make the improvements I need .- Team manager Garry Taylor
_
said; -We onlyplanned two races wilh Luca. just a week apart. so
there was no time to do any tesling._We're releasing him with no
hard feelings. and r m sorry that we can't go any· further at this
time." Cadalora had tieen erratically brilliant at Assen. He fell on
·the first d; 6 . Tohru U k a w a
(2:07.390); i . O livier jacq ue
(2: 07 .4-27); 8 . Stefano Pe r u gi n i
(2:0 7. 7 08); 9. Sebastian Po rto
(2:08.3 04 ); 10. O sa m u Miya zaki
(2:08.319); 11. Ttlkeshi Tsujimura
(2:0 8 .3 77); 12. Roberto Ro lfo
(2:08.455); 13 . N oriyasu N umata
(2:08.476); 14. Jeremy McWilliams
(2:08.544); 15. lose-Luis Ca rdoso
(2:0 8.69 1); 16. Luca Boscoscuro
(2:0 8 ,787 ); 17 . W ill ia m Coates
(2:0 9 . t 2 4) ; 18. Jason Vincen t
(2;09 .282 ); 19 . Da\'ide Bulega
(2:09 .399) ; 20 . Yasumasa Hatakevama (2:09 .404); 21.
Johan Sttgefelt (2:09.480); 22. Luis d' Anti n (2:09.595); 23.
Iva n C le menti (2 :10 .671); 2 4. Ma ur ice Bol w e rk
(2:11 .331); 25 . Jarno Janssen ' (2:11.639 ); 26 . Rud ie
Ma rkink (2:J3.224); 27. Andre Romein (2:14.116).
250cc GRAND PR IX: 1. Valentino Ros si (Apr); 2.
jurgcn Fuchs (A p r); 3. Haruchika Aoki (H a n); 4. Luis
d 'Antin (Yam); 5. To hru Uka wa (Han); 6 . Sebastia n
Porto (A p r) ; 7. T u k eshi Ts uji mu ra (Ya m) ; 8 . Ja so n
Vincent (Hen): 9. Luea Boscuscuro (Hon ); 10. Robe rto
Rolfo (Han); 11. Norivasu Numata (Suz); 12. Je re my
McWitliams (Han); 13: William Castes (Han); 14. Inn
Clementi (Ya m ); 15. Johan Stigefelt (S uz); 16. Yas u
Hatak.eyama (Ho n ): 17. Davtde Bulega (Ho n); 18. Jam o
Janssen (H o nk 19. Mau ri ce Bc lwerk (Ho n); 20. Rud ie
Markink (Han); 21. .Andre Rome in {Hcn l: 22. jose-Luis
Cardoso (Yam ); 23. Loris Capiroesl (Ap r); 24. Tetsuya
Harada (A p r ); 25. O livier Jacque (H e n): 26 . Stefano
Perugini (Hen) .
Ti met 38 min. 31.905 sec.
Di stance: 18 laps, 675 miles
Av er ag e Sp eed: 105.09 mph
M.trg in of Victo ry: 19.184 sec.
Fastest Lap: Tetsuya Harada. 2:06 .452. Lap 3.
250cc WORLD C"SHIP POINT STANDINGS (A fter 7
of 15 ro u n ds): 1. Tetsuya Harada 0 04 /3 wins); 2. loris
Ca pi ros s! (90 / 1); 3. Valentino Rossi (85 /0; 4. Tohru
Ukawa (73); 5. Haruchika Aoki (64); 6. Olivier Iacque
(56 ); i. (T IE) [urgen Fu chs /Luis d 'An tin /S tt>fano
Perugini (45); 10. Takesh i Tsujimura (43 ); 1 1. (T IE)
Marchellino Lu cchl Zj o se- Lu is Cardoso (36 /1); 13 .
jeremy McWill iams (35); 14, Daiji ro Ka toh (25 /1); 15.
Jason Vincent (24).
500" QUALIFYING; I. Mick Dooh.n (2:02.092); 2.
Simo n Crilfar (2:02.491); 3. No rick Abe (2:02.601); 4. Max
Biaggi (2:02 .880; 5. Carlos Cht'Ca (2:02.9 12); 6 . Alex
Barros (2: 0 3. 128) ; 7. Lu ca Cadalora (2 :03 .261); 8.
Nobuatsu Aoki (2:03.269); 9. Alex Criville (2:03.469); 10.
Ralf Waldman n (2:0 4. 0 64 ); 11. Taday uld O k a da
Ma rco Meland ri - a GP winne r at o nly 15.
He a lso holds down second in the 125cc
World Championship thus far in 199B.
(2;04.286l; 12 Jurgen van den Goorbergh (2:0·1-'61); 13.
Se te Gibe r na u (2:0 4.8 3 7 ); 14. Kenn y Roberts Jr.
(2:04.961); 15. Iea n-Phi l ippc Russia (2:05.432); 16. Garry
McC o y (2;OS.7S4l; 17. Juan Borja (2;OS_81 2l ; 18. John
Kcciru k i (2:04 .961); 19. Re gi s Laco ni (2:0b.108); 20.
..
Bern a rd Garcia (2:07.244); 21. Ma tt Wait (2:09.126); 22Scott Smart (2:09 .883).
500c(' G RAN D PR IX: 1. Mick Doohan (Ho n) ; 2.
Ma x Bia g g i (Hen) ; 3. Simon Cralar (Ya m) ; 4. Alex
Barros (Hon); 5. Carlos Checa (Ho n ); 6. Alex Criville
( H o n ): 7. Nobuatsu Aoki (Suz ~ ; 8. Tadavu ki O kada
(H a n ); 9. Regis La co n i (Ya m ); 10. Iurgen va n den
Goorbe rgh (Hen) : 11. Garry McCoy (Hon); 12. Kenny ·
Roberts Jr . (Mod); 13. Ma tt Wai t (Ho n ); 14. Scott Sm a rt
(Hen): 15. Berna rd Garcia (Hon); 16. Norick Abe (Yam);
Ii. 5ete Gibemau (He n): 18. luca Cad a lo ra (So2 ); 19.
Juan Borja (Ho n ); 20. [ean-Philippe Ruggia IMuz) .
Time: 41 m in., 17.788 sec .
Distance: 20 laps, 75 mil es
Average Speed: 108.996 m p h
Margin of Vic tory: 0.560 ~'C.
Fas tes t up: Mick Doohan, 2:02.941, Lap 20
500cc WO RLD CSHIP POINT ST ANDlNGS (Aller 7
of 15 ro u n d s ); 1. M d X Bi.lggi 018/1 wi n) ; 2. M ic k
Do ohan (TIS /3 ); 3 . A le x C rtvi lle (113 / 2); 4. Carl o s
C heca (106 /1); 5. Nob u.ltsu Ao ki (Sb); 6. Noric k AbE'
(51); 7. Simo n Crafar -(50); 8. Alt.·x Bilrros (47); 9. John
Ko ci n ski (43) ; 10. Ta dily uk i O ka d a (37); 11. Se te
C ihcmau (34); 12. Rt.'gis L.lconi (29); 13. Rail Waldman n
(28); 14. Ken ny Roberts Jr. (24); IS. GarryM cCoy (20).
also miss the Britis h GP. Kocinski suffered a maor abrasion to the Restarting practice wouid give them one chance - if they could
little finger on his leh hand. and It was far from healed when he ' complete the out lap within the time available - and a standingcame to Asse n. Aher ending up ·19th in qualifying. he leh early. start 2;12 lap is no mean achievement. A gang of 14 riders gathr
saying: -ll"s useless to race in my condition. ~'s not safe ... fo' me ered at the pit exit. waiting for the green light. One waited at the
or the other riders ; and impOssible to sco re a decent result. I have · other end of the pits - Doohan. his eyes fixed on his crew chief.
to be realistic and accept things as !hey are. - MeviStar Ho~da Jerry Burgess. in the pit. who was counting off the seconds. He
team owne r Sito Pons· comments were revealing of some dismay
sent his rider off just before the lights went green so that when he
in the team. -This is John's decision and there's nothing we can arrived at the pit exrt the' traffic was clearing. but he was already
say about it. bul we respect what he wants to do_We cannot doing 50 mph or more. By the time he got to the first comer. he
force·him to race if he doesn 't feel ready.- But there were rumors was in second place. soon to lead. Six other riders follo
wed him
of more serious dissent Within the MoviStar pit. where his so- around to get a second timed lap. For Alex Cnville. Norick Abe .
called junior teammate Carlos Checa has been consistently out- and A1ex .Barros. as for Doohan.. it was their fastest of the sesranking him. as well as of willful damage to .his motorcycle. as
sion. Tadayuki Okada. Juan Borja and Sete Gibemau got a time
;""hen his Suzuki 250cc career collapsed mtdseason in 1993. This in. but did not improve. Those who failed teimake the cut included
marks the halfway point of the World Superbike Champion 's Carlos Checa. Cadalora. Laconi and Jurgen van den Goorbergh.
relum to GPs . and ·so far it has fallen short of expeclations . "I
have what I need .- Kocinski has insisled all alon9. and that it
Yamaha's long-s tanding absentee Jea n- Mic he l Bayle withwould only be a matter of time before he regained.the front. But
·drew from the Dutch GP after a recurrence of headache probluck has not been on his side. His lalest injury came aher he was
knocked off the track from behind by a late-braking Alex Barros lems. followi ng more-or-Iess successful tests al Barcelona the
week after the Madrid GP . Ironically. his tea m boss . Wayne
on the first lap of the las t GP.
Rainey, had just watched top substitute Luca Cadalora walk away
y
High drama in the closing minutesof the 500cc qualifying session to Suzuki. as he dutifull kept the seat open. for the Frenchman.
who has yet to race this year.
. began when Mode nas rider Ralf Waldmann crashed into the
Airfence at -one of the tighter comers of Ihe irack after his threecylinder motor seized .' The 'German followed the bike under the Randy Mamola caus ed a st ir on the first day of praclice. dressbillowing plastic Airfence. and the bike exploded ·into flames . Mar- ing up in full helmet and leathers and walking into the Team Rainey
shals quickly pulled Waldmann out of harm's way and goi ihe fire pit as If to climb aboard Bayle 's bike. As Rainey walched. chucku'nder co ntrol.. Practice had already bee n red-flagged by then, ling. mechanics and "teammate - NorickAbe looked on in amaze. because of the damage to the Airfence . and the bikes were held ment.
in the pits for some 20 minutes while it was repaired. Waldmann
suffered -a wrist fracture. miss ing not only the Dutch round but Sele Gibernau' s much-improved' for") on' the V-twin Honda
came after a switch to a 250cc -s ized rear tire from Ihe intermedimost likely next weekend's British round as well.
ate size usuany used on his factory 500. Previous rider Takuma
The s~cond dra;"" was becau se the accident happened with just Aoki got much better res ults us ing the large tire. but when he
two minutes and 12 seconds of th~ session remaining..A number · tried a 250 tire. thciugh faster. it would last only a handful of laps.
of.riders. including Mlck Doohan. were already engaged in the . G i b~ rna';J ' s. s.moot her riding style -·as we ll ~s improved tire
final sprint for grid pOSi t.io~s, and. had to abort crucial hot laps. endurance.-may be the key tothe breakthrough.
