(Opposite page) Kenny Roberts Jr. (1) has
his head down as he leads the opening
lap in Argentina. Max Blaggi (2), Norick
Abe (6) and the rest of the SOOcc GP pack
give chase.
(Above) The race came down to Roberts
vs . Blagg i, with Roberts finally tak ing the
win on the fi nal lap after forcin g Biaggi to
make a mistake.
(Right) Carlos Checa (4) and Alex Criville
(3) battled for fourth place, with Checa
ultimately prevailing.
World Champion Manuel Herreros in
1989.
500cc GRAND PRIX
Biaggi led from the start, but before the
en d o f th e la p Rober ts h a d come
through fro m third . Roberts then stayed
in the lead from then on, rid ing smoothly and paying little attention to the very
close attention of the Yamaha rider, who
showed him his front wheel from time
to time, but never actua lly ma de the
move stick. Until the second -to-last lap ,
when he p assed into turn o ne, a nd
fought back as the American tried to get
back underneath him. .
With just over one lap left, Roberts
was obliged to change his approach.
"I kn ew Max was the re, bu t when I
was sure i t was just h im , and we
weren' t pulli ng a freig ht train, I could
re lax and get in to a rhythm," he said.
"Un til he went by, it was just me and
the track. I was rid ing like a com pu ter,
withou t adrenaline. .When he ca me by,
he had the advantage of the adrenaline,
and I didn't have very long to figure out
w here I could get by him again."
Roberts kep t close, how ever, waiting
for his chance, until it was handed to
him on a plate on the left-right-left wig-
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