Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

group from Battaini, Waldmann and Vincent, who later protested because Battaini had overtaken him under the yellow flags for the McWilliams incident, This was overruled for lack of independent evidence; however, marshals at the first comer reported Battaini for a similar move on the se.cond lap, and stewards applied a five-second penalty, This promoted Waldmann and Vincent to fourth and fifth, and dropped the Italian to sixth, Sebastian Porto was seventh, three seconds down after a lonely race, with Alex Hofmann six seconds away after an impressive ride, Then came Australian Anthony West, also impressive after a fast start. Ultimately his private bike was outpowered. "It was really hard work trying to stay with them," he said. Toshihiko Honma, riding Jacque's Chesterfield Yamaha, was 10th after an appalling start, Then came McWilliams. Ukawa's win extended his title lead. He now has 85 to Nakano's 61. Nonscorer Capirossi has 57, with Rossi fourth on 45, followed by Battaini's 36. Tohru Ukawa (right) celebrates his 250cc win with countryman Shlnya Nakano (left). 125cc GRAND PRIl( Ultradose qualifying did indeed lead to an ultraclose race - but not for first place, That went to Locatelli, who took the lead on lap five and somehow managed to pull away steadily to win his first GP by almost seven seconds, The battle for second was huge, even after Cecchinello had crashed out on the third lap while leading, As half-distance passed, more and more riders joined in, until there were six of them, running into corners three abreast, jostling down the straight and bickering through the bends. The numbers were cut when Mirko Giansanti ran off, rejoining to finish 13th, but taking Gianluigi ScaiVini with him, Scalviru lost only a couple of seconds but was out of touch with the battle. The last lap was obviously going to be drama tic, but it seemed as though three-time winner Azuma had it all wrapped up before the fina1 bends, though Azuma had been riding wildly all race long and could never be ruled out. But there was more brawling still through ·the final bends, and over the line Vincent led Alzamora, Azuma, Ueda and Melandri, with Scalvini still two seconds adrift in seventh. From second to sixth was covered by just over half a second. A little way back, German youngster Steve Jenkner narrowly held off defending champion Kazuto 'Sakata and promising Italian Simone Sanna for eighth. Azuma still leads on points, with 88 to Alzamora's 68, Scalvini has 42, Vincent 39, and Locatelli moved up to fifth on 36, CIII Circuit de Paul Ricard Le Castellet, France Results: May 23, 1999 10 l2See QUALIFYING: 1. Lucio Cecchinello 0:28.864); 2. Masno Azuma 0:28.901); 3. Roberto Locatelli (1:29.030); 4. Gianluigi Scalvini (1:29.071); 5. Emilio Alzamora (1:29.093); 6. Arnaud Vincent (1:29.113); 7. Simone Sanna (1:29.132); 8. Marco Melandri (1;29.219); 9. Youichi Vi 0:29.452); 10. Jeronomi Vidal (1:29.454); 11. Noboru Veda (1:29.470); 12. Mirko Giaosanti (1:29.502); 13. Manuel Poggiali (1;29.662); 14. Steve Jenkner 0:29.723); 15. Alessandro Brannetti (1:29.732); 16. Cino Borsoi (1:29.811); 17. Kazuto Sakata (1029,892); 18, Angel Nieto Jr, (1,29,971); 19. Frederic Petit (1 :29.987); 20. Randy De Puniet 0:30.006); 21. MilX Sabbatilni (1:30.074); 22. Ivan Coi 0:30.434); 23. Reinhard Stolz 0:30.609); 24. Bemha'rd Absmeier 0;31.079); 25. Clregory Lefort 0:31..411); 26. Jimmy Petit (U1,442); 27, Pablo Nieto (U2,424); 28, Eric Dubray (1,33,264); 29, Herve Louiset (1,34,630); 30, Mike Lougassi (1 :34.668). 250cc QUALIFYING: 1. Valentino Rossi (l :23.366); 2. Franco Battaini (]:23.511); 3. Loris Capirossi 0:23.634); 4. Tohru UkaW3 (1:23.743); 5. Shioya Nakano 0:23.823); 6. RaJ{ Waldmann 0:23.908); 7. Roberto Rollo 0:24.162); 8. Stefano Pe.rugini (l:24..287); 9. Jeremy McWilliams 0:24.378); 10. Toshihiko Honma 0:24.466); 11. Marcellino Lucchi (1 :24.683); 12. Jason Vincent (1:24.743); 13. Sebastien Porto 0:24.789); 14. Alex Hofmann (1025,266): 15, Luca Boscoscuro (1,25,255); 16, Julien Allemand (1,25.278); 17, David Garcia (1,25,338); 18. Jarno Jan$sen (1:25.357); 19. Anthony West (1:25.540); 20. Vincent Philippe 0:25.844); 21. Masaki Tokudome 0':26.041); 22. Fonsi Nieto (l :26.066); 23. Tomomi Manako (1,26,266); 24, Rob Filart (1'26,381); 25, Johan Stigefelt (1:6.517); 26. Matias Rios 0:26.867); 27. Julien Da Costa 0;26.947); 28. Lucas Oliver 0:27.559); 29, Herve Mora (1,27.7a9), 500cc QUALJFYJNG: 1. Max Biaggi (1;20.969); 2: Kenny Roberts Jr, (UO,986); 3, John Kocinski 0,20,993); 4, Carlos Checa (U1.001); 5, Alex Criville (UI.231); 6, Luca Cadalora (1:21.443); 7. Tetsuya Harada (1;21.485); 8. Tadayuki Okada (1 :21.718); 9. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (1,21.734); 10, Norkk Abe Om,794); 11. Jean-Michel Bayle (1021.859); U, Alex Barros (1021.897); 13. Regis Laconi (1:22.031); 14, Sete Gibernau (1;22.038); 15, Juan Borja OZL066); 16. Haruchika Aold (1,22,325); 17. Yukio Kagayama (1:22.406); 18. Simon Crafar (1;22.662); 19. Sebastien Gimbert 0:23.512); 20. Jose Luis Cardoso 0,23.530); 21, Mike Hale 1,23.578); 22, Michael Rutter 0,24,492); 23, Markus Ober (1,24.607), USCe GRAND PRLX: 1. Roberto Locatelli (Apr): 2. Arnaud Vincent (Apr); 3. Emilio Alzamora (Hon); 4. Masao Azuma (Hon); 5. Noboru Veda (Hon); 6. Marco Melandri (Hon); 7. GianJuigi Scalvini (Apr); 8. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 9. Kazuto Sakata (Hon); 10. Simone Sanna (Hon); 11, "Randy De Puniet (Apr); 12. Angel Nieto Jr. (Hon); 13. Mirko GiaI1S3nti (Apr); 14. Jeronimo Vidal (Apr); 15. Frederic Petit (Apr); 16. Gino Borsol (Apr); 17. Berhard Absmeier (Apr); l8. Pablo Nieto (Der); 19. Gregory Lefort (Apr); 20. Eric Dubray (Hon); 21. Herve Louiset (Hon); 22. Mike Loltg~ssi (Hon). Time: 43 min., 23.904 sec. Distance: 27 laps, 63.61 miles Average speed: 94.48 mph Margin of victory: 6.124 sec. Fastest lap: Gianluigi Scalvini, 1:28.891/95.42 mph, Lap 12, 2S0cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Tohru Ukawa (Hon); 2. Shinya Nakano (Yam); 3. Stefano Perugini (Hon); 4. RaU Waldmann (Apr); 5. Jason Vincent (Hon); 6. Franco Battaini (Apr); 7. Sebastien Porto (Yam); 8. Alex Hofmann (Hon); 9. Anthony West (H.on); 10. Toshihiko Honma (Yam); 11. Jeremy McWiUiams (Apr); 12. Fonsi Nieto (Yam); 13. Masaki Tokudome (Hon); 14. luca Boscoscu.ro (Hon); 15. Marcellino Lucchi (Apr); 16. Vincent Philippe (l-lon); 17. Tomomi Manako (Yam); 18. Matias Rios (Apr); 19. Lucas Oliver (Yam); 20. Rob Filart (Hon), Time: 40 min., SO.340 sec. Distance: 291aps, 68.32 miles. Average speed: 100.38 mph. Margin of victory: 10.940 sec. Fastest lap: Valentino Rossi, 1:23.635/101.41 mph, L.1p U, SOOcc GRAND PRIX: 1. Alex CriviUe (Hon); 2.]ohn Kocinski (Hon); 3. Tetsuya Harada (Apr); 4. Sete Gibem.lu (Hon); 5. Carlos Checa (Hon); 6. Norick. Abe (Yam); 7. Juan Borja (Hon); 8. Regis Laconi (Yam); 9. Tadnyuki Okada (Hon); 10. Alex B.anos (Hon); 11. Simon Crafar (Yam): 12. Sebastien Gimbert (Hon); 13. Haruchika Aoki (Hon); 14. Markus Obe:r (Hon). Time: 42 min., 35.64,8 sec. Distance: 31 laps, 73.04 miles Average speed: 102.88 mph Margin of victory: 11.398 sec. Fastest lap: Kenny Roberts Jr., 1:21.487/104.08 mph, Lap 3. 125cc WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 15 rounds): 1. Masao Azuma (80/3 wins); 2. Emilio Alznmora (68); 3. Gianluigi Scalvini (42); 4. Arnaud Vincent (39); 5. Roberto Locatelli (36/1); 6. lucio Cechhinello (30); 7. Simon.e Sanna (25); 8. Jeronimo Vidal (23); 9. Kazuto Sakata (22); 10. Hideyuki Nakajoh (20); 11. Noboru Ueda (19); 12. Yolchi Vi (16); 13. lvan Goi (15); 14. Max Sabbatani (}4); 15. (TIE) Cino Borsoi/Mirko Giansanti (13). 250cc WORLD C'SHTP POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 15 rounds): 1. Tohru Ukawa (85/1 win); 2. Shinya Nakano (6] /1); 3. Loris Capirossi (57/1); 4. Valentino Rossi (45/1); 5. Frano Battaini (39); 6. Stefano Perugini (31); 7. Marce.llino Lucchi (29); 8. Jeremy McWilliams (23); 9, RalJ Waldmann (21); 10, Jason Vincent (19); 11. Roberto Rollo (17); 12. Anthony West (15); 13, Sebastian Porto (14); 14. (TIE) Oliver Jacque/Luca Boscoscu.ro/Naoki Matsudo (3). 500cr WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 4 of 15 rounds): 1. Alex Criville (79/2 wins): 2, Kenny Roberts Jr. (53/2); 3. Carlos Checa (47): 4. Sete Gibernau (46); 5, Noriek Abe (37); 6, Mkk Doohan (33); 7, Tadayuki Okada (32); 8. John Kocinski (30); 9. Juan Borja (29); 10, Max Biaggi (27); 11, Regis Laconi (26); 12, Alex Barros (24); 13. Tetsuya Harada (19): 14. Nobuatsu AoId (13); 15. (TIE) Shinichi Hoh/Simon Crafar/Yukio Kagayama (9). Upcoming Rounds: Round 5 - Mugello, Italy, June 6 Round 6 - Catalunya, Spain, June 20 , COIitin ued from page 9' (1 97,9niph) 6n the way to pole position in the final session, The 200-mph 'mark' has be~ broken oniy orice" by Shinichi Itoh's Honda in 1.993.. . :.. ma~hines .for the' first time', haVing built u~ a 'second .bike after missing the, Japanese GP when thei.. sale, machine broke a,crankshaft in Malaysia. . , " . , Once a' show-piece' race tra,ck, now spme,,!,hat run-dpwn, the Paul Ricard . ,circuit ha.s been bou9ht by Formula One m09ul' Bernie EcclestQne" News of the'.£8 million sale',broke during the week before the Frencb Gp. .The irack, well-plac'ed on an elevated plateau ovenooked by rocky peaks and overlooking 'the Mediterranean shore, less than an hour from Mar: seilles, has' been up for sal,e for several years, No .longer used for Formula· One cars, tlie old full-length (3,61 miles, 5,810km) track was first used in ,1973, but the track 'was shortened for safetY reasons'in the early '90s, . , with on'ly part . the spectacular Mistial straight'Stili used,' . . of . ,. . The future of th,e EN Kanemoto/.John Kocinski team remained in douet afte~ .they ,did man'age to make the ,French GP a.fter all. Unsponsored, Kanemoto is running the team on personal ioans in the hope of ' finding ,some backing. ,"This may be our la'st race, - explained Kocins~i after'qualifying 'on the front row, "Ifs hard to ride' knOWing that this might' be the ,last chance," Then he jokingly appealed' to the press-conference audi.ence, "Is there anybody there witli any -money?" Kocinski's efforts ,may end yp 'being bolsiered after he finisheij second'in the 500cc 'Grand Prix on Sunday, ' Nobuatsu Aoki, who broke h'is left wJist after crashing'into. his Suzuki Honda's.upgraded 250cc'riders m~ved ~hother step closer to Aprilia with 'teamate Kenny Roberts· Jr, at the Spanish GP, hopes to be back for the new engine ',pa.rts 'that' improvei!' top-end' power" according to front-row Catalunyan GP,on June. 20 after having the injury repaired in a six-hour qUalifiers Loris Capirossi and Tohru' Uk"wa. "Aprilia are not .so far operation at home in Japan, Aoki broke his 'scaphoid bone, detaohed a ahead now - I tbink. it will be ,possible to slipstre.am them on' the Mistral tendon and fraotured his, r.adius in the orasH, His' plaoe in the revived team , Straight.in 'the race:" Capir<;>ss, said, But Capiross, had 'rejected the latest' was taken by faotory tes'ter Yukio Kagayama '- but the substitute 'rider 'was "hassis, which he tried for the 'first 'time 'at ·Jerez during practice, "It is also head,ing, for the hospital. in a' ~ear-repea~ of his speotaoular'high~sider, quite a lot different. and it is h~rd to develop, something new ai a race at the same traok last year. This time Kagayama fell when about to enter meeting, It will have'to wait 'until we go testing,· he said" the pits: and 'hewas,heli>:optered to the hospitalll,\/ith two broken ribs and possible inter;nal injuries. . A new French GP challenger 'Surfaced' at Paal Ricard' the '=ulgur 250, designed by longstanding ,endurance chassis builder and designer Eric Th'e most crashed·at comers i'n GP racing' - the two left-handers that' Toullec. It is a 9q·degree. reed-valve V·,twin, which was dyno·tested for close the lap at Paul Ricard - took their ,usual toll. with 16 cra,shes the first time at the statt of the monlh, and ridden for the first time. at Le recorded during practice alone in the 'closing section of the track, This isa Mans,a couple of weeks:ago" It is hoped that the bike will be'raced in French, national racing later'thi,s year and will be in the- GPs 'next year, 'notorious stretch of track. approached after a full lap with only right turns, allowing the lef:t side of the tires to cool down, Victims [ncluded Carlos There is a tradition of independent French 250cc GP bikes oating back to Checa, Jean-Micnel Bayle, ,250cc privateer ace Jeremy McWilliams:and the Pernod and .Pari~ienne of the '80s, ' ex-1"25cc star Tomomi Manako . twice, Max Biaggi aiso crashed on the first day, afte'r' running wide on a right-hander. Mich,elin technicians Valentino Rossi has vowed to continue his postrace c'etebratipn's after explained that while an, acceptable temperature, difference across the , each victory, in' spite of being' fined for his antics after the Spanish GP width of a tire was 10 degrees, at Ricard It can reach as much as 40 ,two weeks ago -'when he first feigned an' argent trip to the lavatory, and degrees, They again had dual.compouhd tire~. <;>n offer, with a softer com, , then climbed, the fence to entertain the crowd, ,Rossi received an official pound on the left; but while reassuring in practice, these were ,not expect- warning for infringing the rules, which state that riders must reiurn directly ,ed to be popular for the r a c e , ' , after the race, largely to fit in with, postrace TV schedules, Last season he was warned and then later fined for what became a regular series of . The New Zealand-built BSL's nightmare first season. continued at ostentatious (and highly enjoyable) costume parades and other. antics, "If Paul Ricard, with luckless rider Mark Willis failing to qualify after running' they fine me, that's'pkay, .Apritia pay:" he said. Then he. added: "I think it into trouble nO,t ,>nly with the three-cylinder bike but also the team's is wrong for Doma to try and stop these celebrations, which come. from backup'. Honda V,twin, which failed on the first morning when he was the heart: They are trying to make bike racing like Formula One~ with no using it te> gain familiarity with the track. At least the leam did have two personalities, "

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