World Championship Road Race Series
Round 1 : .Japanese Grand Prix
By MICHAEL SCOTT
PHOTOS By GOLD & GOOSE
SUZUKA,JAPAN,APR.8
alentino Rossi is Honda's History
Man. In the latest chapter of what
seems a charmed life, the 22-yearold former 125 and 250cc World
Champion claimed Honda's SOOth GP
win, at their home Suzuka circuit, in
front of 42,000 fans.
The Nastro Azzurro Honda rider
did so in the finest style. rising above
a fearsome battle that saw 10 or
more 500s climbing allover one
another in the chicane like a bunch of
125s, and almost as much body contact as in a football game. Rossi was
forced off the track once at high
speed by deadly rival Max Biaggi, but
managed to recover and to work his
way through to take the lead on the
seventh of 21 laps of the classic
3.63-mile figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit. From then on, he drew steadily
ahead to win by seven tenths of a
V
(Top) Garry McCoy (5) leads Shinya
Nakano (56), Max Blaggl (3) and
Valentino Rossi (46) In the Japanese
Grand Prill at Suzuka.
(Right) Rossi (46) and Blaggi (3) got
Into an on-track tussle when Blaggi
ran his Italian rival Into the gravel
going down the front straight. Rossi
got the last laugh, and the win, In
the end.
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APRIL 18, 2001 •
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