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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128079
Alzamora (2:01.201); 13. Jeronimo Vidal (2:01.297); 14.
Ma x Sabbatani (2:01.44n; 15. Ivan Goi (2:01.779) ; 16.
Arnaud Vincent (2:02.206); 17. Frederic Petit (2:02.376);
18. Alessandro Branneui (2:02.397); 19. Randy de Puniet
(2:02..120; 20 . An gel Nieto Jr. (2:02.424); 21. Steve
[enkner (2:02. 464); 22. Reinhard Stolz (2:02.5S8); 23.
Kazuto Sakata (2.. 3.042); 24. Pablo N ie (2.'03.975) ; 25.
0
to
Robbin Harms (2:04.190); 26. Cristiano Vieira (2:05.092);
27. lason DiSalvo (2fl5 .3571; 28. Cesar Barros (2:1J6.013);
29 Renato Velludo 12:07.640).
.
250« QUALIFYING: 1. Olivier jacque 0:54 .072); 2.
Valentino ~si 0:54.340); 3. Shinva Nakano (1:54.343);
4. Lo ris Ca pi ross! 0 :54.790); "5. Se bastian Porto
0:55.011); 6. Jeremy McWilliams 0:55.098); 7. Franco
Battai ni ():55.159) ; 8. Stefa no Pe rugini 0:55.237); 9.
To hru Ukawa 0:55.258); 10. Ralf Waldma 0:55.2%);
nn
11. Luca Boscoscuro (1;55.706); 12. To mo m i Manako
0:56.J4l); 13. Roberto Rolfo 0:56.206); 14. Jason Vincen t
(l~6 . b42) ; 15. Anthony West (1:56.753); 16. Ma u rice
Bolwerk 0:56.853); 17. Scott Smart 0:57.018); 18. Julien
Allemand 0 :57.264); 19. Ale x Ho fma n n 0:57.330); 20.
Jamo janssen 0 :57.362); 21. Fon si Ni eto 0 :57.822); 22.
Iohan Stigcfeit 0:58.485); 23. David Garcia 0 :58.700); 24.
Mat ias Rtos (1:59.766); 25. Marku Barth (1:59.790).
s
500cc QUAUFYING: 1. Kenny Roberts 0:52.227); 2.
Sere Gibern a u (1 :52.552); 3. Ale x Barros 0 :52.672); 4.
Carlos Checa 0 :52.672); 5. Tad ayuki O ka da 0 :52.790); 6.
M a x Bia ggi -{1:52.960); 7. Jurgen va n d er Goorbe rg h
0 :53 .014); 8. Antho ny Gobert 0 :53.101>; 9. Nobuatsu
Aoki 0 :53.132); 10. Carry McCoy 0 :53.165); 11. Alex
Cr iville 0 :53.208 ); 12. Norick Abe (1:53.214); 13. j uan
Bo r ja 0 :53.468 ); 14. Reg is Laco ni 0 :53.608); 15. Joh n
Kocinski 0 :53.905); 16. David de Cc-a 0 :54.235); 17. 10'"'
luis Ca rdosa (1:54.334); 18. Tets uya Harada 0 :54.483); 19. Ha ruch ika Ao ki 0:54.849); 20. Mike Hal e 0:55.012);
21. Ma rk Will is 0 :55.412); 22. Steve Martin 0 :56.151);
23. Sebastien G im bert n :56 .787) ; 24. M ichael Rutter
0 :56.991).
125ce G RAND IJRI X: 1. No bo ru Ve d a (Han); 2.
Marco Melandri (Hu n); 3. Em ilio Alza mo ra (Han); 4.
Mirk o C tansa nti (Ap r); 5. Gino Borso t (A pr); 6. Ma sao
Azuma (Han) ; 7. Manuel Poggia li (A p r); 8. Roberto
Locatelli (Ap r); 9. Simo ne Sanna (Han); 10. Youichi Vi
(Oer); 11. Ivan Goi (Ha n); 12. Jeronimo Vidal (Ap r); 13.
Arnaud Vin cent (Apr); 14. Max. Sa bba ta ni (Han); 15.
A nge l N ieto Jr. (Ha n); 16. St ev e Jenkner (A pr) ; 17.
Kazuto Sakata (Hen) : 18. Randy d e Puniet (Ap r); 19.
Reinhard Stolz (Han ); 20. Frederic Petit (Ap r); 21.lucio
Cecch inell o (Han); 22. Robbin Harms (Apr); 23. Cesa r
Barros (Hon); 24. C ris tia no Vie ira (H o n); 25. JasonDi
Salvo (Han); 26. Renat e Vel1ud o IHcn).
T ime: 42 min; 14.647 !ioeC.
D isu O('e; 21 la f'5:' 64.228 miles
Average SPffd: 91.223 mph
M.lrgin of victo ry: 0.131 sec.
F.lstest I.lp: Marco Melandri . 1:59.801/91.906 mph (new
lap record)
250« GRAND PRI X: 1. Val entino Rossi (Ho n); 2.
Tohru Ukawa (H an ); 3. Loris Capi~i (Ho n); 4. O livier
jacque (Yam) ; S. Stefa no Perugini (Ho n) ; 6. Sebastien
Porto (Ya m); 7. Ralf Waldmann (A pr); 8. Tom omi
Manako (Ya m); 9. Roberto Rolfo (A pr); 10. lu ca
No boru Ueda
(6) leads t he
way en ro ute
to winn ing the
125cc Gra nd
Prix. The
125cc Wo rld
Championsh ip
w ill go down to
the very last
rac e with three
r iders still in
t he h unt lor
the tille.
Boscoscuro (Han); 11. Ja!OOn Vincent (Han); 12. Alex
H ofmann (Hen): 13. Julien Alle mand (Hen) : 14. Scott
S ma r t (A p r); 15. S h inya N akan o (Yam ); 16. Ja rno
Janssen (Ho n); 17. Fonsi N ie to (Yam); 18. Ma tia s RiO!'
(A pr); 19. Iohan Stige fe lt (Yam) .
Ti me: 42 min., 17.893 sec.
Disu nce: 221.lp;, 67.435.miles
Ave rage Speed: 95.656 mph
Mu gin of victory: 1.328 Sf.."'C.
Futes t l.lp: Valentin o Ros si, 1:54.230 / 96.601 m ph, lap
20 (new lap reco rd)
500cc GRAND PR IX: I. Norick Abe(Yam); 2. Max
Biaggi (Yam ); 3. Kenny Roberts (Suz); 4. Alex Barros
(Ho n); 5. Srle Gibernau (H en) : 6. Alex Criv ille (H o n); 7.
Tada yuki Okada (H o n) : 8. Ga r ry McC o y (Ya m); 9.
Nobuatsu Aoki (Suz); 10. An thony Gobert (Muz); 11.
R..-gi Lacon i (Yam); 12. Tetc;uya Harada (Ap r); 13. John
s
Kocin ski (H on ); 14. David de Gea (Mod); 15. Haruchika
Ao ki (Hon): 16. Mark W illis (Mo d); 11 . Jo s e lu is
Cardoso (H a n); 18. Sebastien Gimbert (Hon).
Tim e: 45 min.,24.308 sec .
Dis l.lnce: 24 laps . 73..565miles
AYeralge Speeds 97.212 mph
MoiIrgin of vinory: 0.161 sec.
Futes t loiIp: Max Btaggi, 1:52.869. W .766 mph. lap 10
125ee
WORLD CHAM PI ONSHIP POI NT
STANDINGS [after 15 of 16 ro u n d s): 1. Emilio
Alze mora (207); 2. Marro Melan d rt (201 / 4 w ins ); 3.
Masac A zuma 0 90 / S}; 4. Noboru Veda (171/1 ); S.
Roberto Locate lli 057/2); 6. Arnaud Vince nt 055/1) ; 7.
Gianluigi Scalvini 054/2); 8. Si mo ne Sa nn a (t13); 9.
Lucio Cecchinel lo OOS); 10. Gino Borsoi (93); 11. Youichi
Ui (84); 12. Kazu to Sakata (56); 13. Mirko Giansanti (55);
14. Steve Ienkner (54); 15. Ivan Go i (53); 16. Jero nimo
Vi da l (47); 17. Manuel Poggiali (46); 18 . Hid e yuki
Nakajoh (20); 19. Randy de Pu niet (20); 20. Aless.. dro
m
Brannett:i (20); 21. Ma x Sabbatani O ~; 22. An gel Niego
Ir. (6); 23. Katsu ji Uezu (1); 24. Reinhard 5tolz (9); 25.
Pablo N ieeo (8);.26. Kazuhiro Kubo m; 27. David Mico
(7) ; 28. Minoru Nakamura (6); 29. Klaus Nobles (5) ; 30.
Fre deric Petit (5) ; 3 1. Willi am d e An ge lts (4) ; 32 .
A ntonio Elias (2).
250ee
WORLD
CHA M PIONSHI P POI NT
STAND ING S bfte r 15 of 16 ro u n ds): 1. Va le nt ino
Ro s s i (293 /9); 2. Toh ru Uk a wa (2 41/2) ; 3. lo ris
Ca
pirossi r:NJ /3); 4. Shin Nakan 0%/1); 5. Stefano
ya
o
Pe rugini (141); 6. Ra lf W a ldmann (126); 7. Fran co
Battaini (121); 8. O livie-r Jacq ue (97) ; 9. St--ba~tian Porto
(85); 10. jeremy McWilliams (83); 11. jason Vincent (66);
12. Luea Boscoscu ro (66 ); 13. Anthony West (58) ; 14.
Ro berto Rol fe (53) ; 15. Ma rcelli no Lu cch i (49) ; 16.
Tomom i Man ako (4S); 17. A lex H o fm ann (45) ; 18 .
Ma sa ki Tokudome (36); 19. Naoki Mat su do (2 1); 20.
Daijiro Kato h (11); 21. julien Allemand (11); 22. Tat suya
Ya mag uc h i (0); 23 . Fo nsi N ie to (8) ; 24. Toshi hiko
Honma (6); 25. Lucas O liver (6); 26. Johan Stige felt (4);
21. Jam ie Rob inson (4); 28. David Garcia (4); 29. Scott
Smart (2); 30. Iamo Janssen (2); 31. Tekkyu Kayo (1) .
SOOce
WORLD
CHAMPIONS HIP
POINT
STAND INGS (after 15 of 16 rounds) : 1. Alex Cnvtlle
y
(256/6); 2. Tadayuki Okada (211/3); 3. Kenn Roberts
Jr . (195/3); 4. Max Bia ggi (174 /1); 5. Sc te Gi bema u
(155); 6. Norick Abe (120/]); 7. Carlos Checa (112); 8.
John Kocinski (106) ; 9. Alex Ba rros (02); 10. Re-gis
Laconi (99/1); 11. Tetsu Harada (99); 12. Juan Borja
ya
(85); 13. Nobw tsu Aoki (7B); 14. GarryMcCoy (62); 15.
Harochika Aoki (53); 16. [ urger va n der Goo rbergh (34);
17 . M ick Doohan (33) ; 18 . Simon C rafa r (9); 19.
Se ba s tien Gi m be rt (]6); 20. Lu ca Cada lo ra ( 4); 21.
Shlnichi hoh (9); 22. Yukio Kagayama (9); 23. Dav id de
Go (8); 24. MarkusObe- (7) ; 25. Anthony Gobert (6); 26.
a
Jose Lui s Ca rdoso (6); 27. Michael Ru tter (5); 28. Jean
Michel Ba yle- (4); 29. Noriyasu N u ma ta (3); 30. Mik e
H ale (3); 31. Jamie W itham (2) ; 32. Steve Martin (2); 33.
Mdrk Willis (1).
Upcoming Rou nd:
Round 16 • Buenos Aires, Argentina, OCtober 31
a
Valentino Rossi . thought to have already signed for switch to
the fore of complaints about track safety at Brazil..where the prot>:
the 500cc class with HRC next .year, may now stay with ApriU in .
a
lem was very slippery paint on the curbs. "The paint is. not to the
offi cial specification - just as it was at Jerez, where M ick (Doo hanJ the 250 cc class . according to the latest rumors from t he' paddoc k
hotbed. .Rossi himself has said he has not yei decided, denying .
crashed after touching a we t white line," said Roberts.His Suzuki
Unexpected rain in Rio threatened rneyhemfor all riders. with . team. a. well as Honda.made an official. complaint. he said; and rid- · strong rumors that he had already agreed terms. With HRC, for. a
ers representative Franco Uncini agreed with him. But with the cir- ride either with the main Repsol team or a po tent ial new te am run
" a serious short age' of rain tires onhand. The ·first day of practi ce
by Mi ck Doohan. How ever. it is thought thaI the money offered by
was sodden:' and both Michelin imd Dunlop runoners found them· . cus.already at Rio..there seemed nothing much to be done..
Honda falls far short of his expectations. as well as the offer from ·
selves having to plan strategies to preserve their limited supplies
Ap hfia to stay put.
..
.
Yamaha acted to defuse the con troversy over the apparent ' firof full·we t rubber. Some riders threw caution to the wind. hoping
ing of Ma x Biaggi"s team of mechanics. denying details. tho ugh '
that the local.forecasts may be wrong . while ·TadaYuki Okada ran
The BSL team hopes to fiel d tw o riders nex t yea r, and may
no( th e overall truth of th e sto ry t ha t broke in South A fric a.
on ~ a few laps on the first day. just in case he should need the
dump their curre nt tnree "cylinder Modenas in· favor of the other '
Report s from there were 'that Biaggi was behind t he moue: and
tires latere Michelin raided their supply of we·t tires for next week 's
this remains the most plausible explanation as Biaggi is famously
alte rnative mac hine . the Y-four MuZ: One rider earmarked for
Argentine GP . flying a nother 100 tires in overnight for the second
day ·of pract ice . bu t these were no t needed. Dun lop had only · hard to p'lease - as we ll as desirous of Importing his·oWn faVorite .the ro le is former GP winner S imon .C raf a r . who is th~ug ht to .
mechanics. a·request denied at the start of th~ year. B ut Yamaha · require the promise of Dunlop tires rather than Michelin as part
brought one set of wets for each of their runners, With a ·handful
of an induc ement to return to GP s. The New Zeala nder was
of spares . "W e info rmed the teams of this several wee ks ago . .tried to .muddy the waters , with a special state ment from team
drop ped from Red Buli Yamaha this seaso~ after falling to·come
d.irector ·Un Jarvis. T~e team was currently re:viewing opetations.
and told them that if they wanted more they must bring them in
to terms with the . swi tch from Dunlops to Michelins. But team
the statenient read. to enhance the total performance of the team
their own fre ight . " said Du nlop racing chief J eremy Ferguson.
for next year. " It is possible that this enhancement program might
manager Dave Stewart could not confirm any details. "W e want
who revealed that it costs $40 to bring each tire . The second day
two riders next· year. but we haven't finalized anything yet ," he
include the movement- or change of position of some of our preof practice dawned bright and shiny. however, and M ichelin's plan
said . . BSL started the season with their own three.cylinder
"
to f~ in extra supp lies from Buenos Aires . where they awaited · sent team staff .. JarYis said. "W e felt it to be on~ fair to inform
all team members of this situation at the South African GP. This
machine. designed and built in New Zealand. but after crippling
next week 's GP . wasn't necessary after all.
.
reliabil ity problems they sw itched to a Modenas for rider Mark
obvious ly led to some ,concern with in the team and consequently
some adverse comment in the media . However. I would like to
W illis midseason .
A rever:sal of the usual race orde r. the 500s running first and the
stress· that the situatIon remains under rev iew,and no de finitive
125s last to fit ·in wit h European TV schedules . eased potential
Brazil' s GP ran with the usual mixture of shambles and brinkmandecisions have yet been taken . The final decisions rest ·entirely
tire problems for the big bikes . "It will be a bit cooler then,"
ship. with both days of practice ·running late . The d el ay on Friday
with Yamaha. and it goes without saying that all such discussi ons
said pole starter Kenny Roberts Jr , Local hero Alex Barros agreed
remain strict~ internal and confidential."
.
was due to the late arrival of marshal s, and on Saturday by a
that tire choice would be less critical as a result.
power failure to the control tower. All afternoon sessions ran 30
min'utes behind schedule.
The Nelson P iquet Circu it. locat ed outside of Rio de Janeiro , : The RM released a second p rov i si o na l cal endar in Brazil.
with Argentina added . the United States Grand Prix dropped. the
has b""n completely resurfaced since the last visit there two
summer break restored . with lmola added as a reserve . However.
America n teenager Jaso n DiSalvo . 15. made his GP debut at
years ago. and it ·earned praise for its cons istent levels of grip .
.
Brazil. riding an A:kitted 125 Honda in league with Team P olini.
both wet 'and dry. " It's about 1.0 percent less than perfec t grip. . it was ·thought that the Argentine GP. the second round . was on~
The youngster. a vete ran of almost 100 races at home. took Ii htbut the same all the way . .so it is possible to go off line.and there . the re as a sop to the organizers of next week's race .-and that its
7to be confirmed ". status actual~ meant thai the Ma laysian Gp · · tie time. to come to .terms with the ·extra power. com pared with
.are many places to overtake." .said Alex Barros. How ever, the
wo uld actual~ take its place· in the final calendar. See the' " In the
th.e stock Honda he races at home . "Once I stop ped rushing into
notorio us bumps remained . making suspension setup highly criti ·
cal. .
.
.
the.turns and instead used the power.to pull through for a faste r
Wi no section for the latest calendar.
exit . it got bett er." he said. Di .Salvo qualiffed 27th. and will also
race in the'Ar gentlne GP as a wild card next wee k.
.' .
Mlck Doohan exPect s to make hiS final deciSion about hiS racFCC TechniCal S ports Raci;;g is set to 'pull ~~tof i he 500cc
Ing future Within cou'ple of weeks. afte r traveling to Japa n for . dass. next. year. signaling the death knell of the Honda.Y,twin ·pri-.
Aprll ia i s pl an ning a 'c o mplet e engine re des ign for t he i;
meetings ·wil h HRC. The five-time World C hampion is still in the ' . vatee r 500 : FCC 's alternative TSR chassis is a staple for. 250cc
.USA . recuperating from the latesi round o(surgery.in which a Iiga- privateers,and the England-based firm hoped to do ·the same in· almos t- there Y-tw in 500 . for next year.' and still . hopes to perment was transplanted to his left knee . ·and pl ates .and screws .: . the 500c c class, wit h engines supplied by .HRC in the.ir ow n ·chas· .suade Tetsuya Harada to ride it; perhap s with ·a.seco nd bike for
.removed from his right knee. . . :
.
sis, with a conventional swingarm rather thanthe stock bike's sin:
ano ther rider . Harada has said he want s to return to 250s ; but
u
· gle·s ided unit. The bike has prov ed superior to the. produ ct ion : aft er tw o fr ont -row starts, ·j nCl ding. pol e po sition at' Mug ello.
machine in·.the hands of former two· time 125cc World Champion ' and two third and two fo urth place s. Apr ilia is anxious to keep
HRC riders Tadayuki Okada and Alex Barros will race· four·
him on the 500 . Aprili" s Luigi Dall"igna said. "The new engine
stro ke Superbikes at the season-ending TBC meeting at .Sugo in · Haruchika Aoki. with a best ~ nish of sixth at the German GP .at
will be different in all dimens ions ." They will also be te sting a ,
the tight S achsenring, though teammate Jose Luis Cardoso has
:Japan the weekend after the Arge ntine GP. Barros won the Suzu:
'. been lesS succes sful. Howe ver. with the Y-twin motor increasing.
new cha ssis . The fac tory 's Y -four project is stin alive. he added .
ka Eight-Hour race o~ a similar machine earlier this year..
saYing : " It is possible if we run two bikes that one will be ·a y .
~ uncompetitive' and the privateer mar1

