World C h a m p io n s h ip R o a d R a c e S e ri e s
Roun d 2 : S o u th A frica n G r a n d P ri x
By MICHA EL S COTT
P HOT OS BY GOLD & G OOSE
WELKOM. SOUTH AFRICA, APR. 22
he self-styled Doctor Rossi gave
his fellow 500cc GP riders a good
dose of treatment in South Africa .
The Nastro Azzur ro Honda ride r
claimed h is second w in in two races
in bri ll ian t st y l e . sta rt ing from his
first-ever po le position in t he class .
t he n p revailing over a fearso mel y
close batt le that had th e first seven
riders w i thi n 1. 4 seco nds ha lfway
throug h the 2 8- lap rac e at the 2.63 mile Phakisa F reeway circ ui t outside
Welkom.
B ut th er e we re som e crumbs o f
co m fo rt co m pa red wi th hi s ru naway
win in Japan . In a fast-paced race. it
was a very clo se fi nish. wi t h Lor is
Capiro ssi just six tenth s behind o ver
the li ne aft er a dog ged pu rsu it o n the
T
(Above) Valentino Rossi (4 6)
le ads the pack In the 500cc
South African Grand Prix, held at
t he Phakisa Freeway Circuit
near Welkom.
(Below) Ross i gave way to
defending Wo rld Champion
Kenny Roberts Jr. (1) in the
early going, with la st year's
w inner Garry McCoy (5 ) also in
the hunt.
6 M AY 2 ,
200 1 •
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