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/127992
Battaini hung on to fourth, with last year's winner, Katoh, just getting past Yamaguchi for the finish. Another seven second back in an otherwise rather processional race came Rossi, who had tangled with Katoh for a while before dropping back. ''I'm not happy with seventh," the . title favorite said. "Rain spoiled my chances today." Tomomi Manako was next on the Kurz Yamaha; then came Marcellino Lucchi's factory Docshop Honda, some four seconds ahead of the impressive Anthony West's Shell Advance Honda. '1 caught right up to Lucchi," the 17year-old Australian said.. "But then he went faster. I'm still having a lot of problems setting up the bike, and I'd like to do better." He was miles ahead of crasher Matsudo in 11th. Then came Roberto Rolfo on the Vasco Rossi Aprilia - another impressive ride after a stop-and-go penalty for a jumped start. Antena Yamaha riders David Garcia and Alfonso Nieto were next, with the last point going to wild card Kayo's TSR-Honda, narrowly ahead of former 12Scc rider Masaki Tokudome, riding the Dee-Cee Honda. Then came Sebastien Porto's Yamaha. Briton Jason Vincent, riding the Padgetts Honda, and Johan Stigefelt also crashed out; there were 21 finishers. Capirossi and akano share the title lead with 41 points each, with Ukawa on 40. Then comes Rossi on 20 and Lucchi on 17. 125cc GRAND PRIX The track was drying a} the start but stayed wet enough for a race with many fallers. Early leaders Roberto Locatelli, on the Vasco Rossi Aprilia, and pole qualifier Lucio Cecchinello, on the Givi Honda, were caught most impressively by Italian youngster Max Sabbatani and his Matteoni Honda, but all slithered off. LocateUi was out, but the others rejoined, Sabbatani strewing gravel over the start-finish straight. Azurna's Honda had in the meantime caught up with them and it remained impressively steadfast to the end, pulling out a vast lead of almost 22 seconds over Hideyuki Nakajoh's wildcard Honda. Emilio Alzamora got the best of the pursuit battle and also stayed on board for third, another 10 seconds back. Youichi Vi had meanwhile worked his way steadily through the pursuit pack to give the new Festina Derbi an impressive fourth place in only its second race. At the end he was heading a close group, with wild card Katsuji Vezu fending off Cecchinello by inches, with Sabbatani less than two seconds behind, having moved past defending champion Kazuto Sakata's Pileri Honda and wild card Kazuhiro Kubo, riding the Hitman Yamaha, in the closing stages. Eighteen of the 21 finishers were still on the same lap as the leaders in a widely spread field. Azuma increased his title lead with two perfect scores to 50 points, with Alzamora on 36, Nakajoh on 20, front-row starter and 12thplaced Gianluigi Scalvini on 20 and Vi on 16. _ Twin-Ring Motegi Circuit Motegi, Japan Results: April 25, 1999 (Round 2 of 15) 500cc QUALIFYING: 1. Kenny Roberts (1,so.826); 2. Mick Doohan (1:51.253); 3. Carlos Checa (1:51.332); 4. John Kocinski (1:S1.353); 5. Max B'aggi (1:51.439),6. Alex Barros (1 :51.636); 7. Regis Laconi (J :51.646); 8. TadayuJd Okada (1:S1.785); 9. Alex Criviile (1:51.890); 10. Norifumi Abe 0:52.105); 11. Nobuatsu Aoki (1:52.243); 12. Yukio Kagayarna (1:52.244); 13. Shinichi Itoh (1:S2.263); 14. Sete Gil>emau (1:52.391); 15. Juan Borja (1:52.509); 16. Tetsuya Harada 0:53.215); 17. Jose Luis Cardoso 0:53.220); 18. Horuchika Aoki 0:53.857); May 16; June 6 &13; July 11 &18 ENTRY FEE: $30 $25 for 2nd class $15 for Pee Wee GATE FEE: $10 for Adults $5 for 6-12 yrs. Under 6 FREE Gates open 6:30 am AMATEIJR VZ 8IJtKS FOR VZ RIDERS, PEE WEE, 60 CC, 80 CC, 125 CC, 250 CC, VET, SENIORS, JR. VETS and 4..STROKES RACE TECH TERRY CABLE &::SET @'~ BILL'S PIPES Call for information: 909-880-3090 or www.glenhelen.com Pick up $5 off entry coupon at participating Yamaha Dealers Beech Yamaha Bellflower Yamaha Chaparral Cycle Supply Corona Yamaha Hahm Motorsports Hahm Motorsports John Burr Cycles Long Beach Yamaha Malcolm Smith M/Sports Huntington Beach 714.549.9086 Bellflower 310.925.5097 San Bernardino 909.889-2761 Corona 909.738.8111 Anaheim 714.563.1700 Los Angeles 310.306.7906 Fontana 909.823.1338 Long Beach 310.427.2779 Riverside 909.687.1300 &&T~II th~", yc>U Mission Yamaha Montclair Yamaha Moto Pro, Inc. Moto World of EI Cajon Temecula Motorsports North County Yamaha West Coast Yamaha Yamaha of Cucamonga Yamaha of Redlands Laguna Niguel Montclair Oceanside EI Cajon Temecula Escondido Perris Cucamonga Redlands r~~c:I ~bc>ut i t 714.582.0351 909.628.4748 619.433.4333 619.442.3338 909.698.4123 619.432.9501 909.943.2061 909.987.2411 909.793.2833 infffJff:!JlllJ::lJ ....