Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

W o r ld C hampionship R o a d Race Series R o u n d 5: Italian G r a n d P.rix c rash three times is also bad luck : Melandri said . That put Harada in th e lead , wh ere h e ' d f in i sh , t ak ing his f irst w in i n nearl y th ree ye ars and closing up on th e cham p ionship leader Katoh. "It was a ve ry hard rac e: Harada said . "I haven 't ridden in the ra in for t wo y e a r s o n m y 250 . M y team wo r k ed we ll so w e coul d w in po l e position in th e dry , bu t the wet race was a situa tio n that I did not like very mu ch. "Lucc h i was very fa st , bu t when he crashed I just stayed cons istent an d con centrated on getting to the fi nish. We need ed to w in th is race, so I'm ha ppy , but the cham pionshi p is very long and I'm no t even th in k ing about th at ." O n the sa me l ap t h at L uc c hi crashed , McWilliams went down, los ing th e front end in a right-hander. "I am distraught ," the En gl ishm an sa id . " T h ere was not much fee li ng coming from the tra ck and it wa s diffi c u lt to see where t here wa s grip. The co rn er wh ere I crashed felt li ke o ne o f the b et t er ones in terms of grip , but I haven 't ri dden a 2 50 in the ra in since 19 9 9, so our wet set -u p was not great." By th e seven th la p , Safil o O xyd o Race's Robe rto Rolfo had taken over second and qu ickly made it his own . Addin g tim e sign ifi cantly with ea ch lap, Rolfo wa s 25 seconds in front of third at the end , wh ile earn ing his fi rst podium. "I'm very happy : he sa id . "I just tried to be consistent and in the wet thi s is usually the best strategy. After the race settled d ow n in the rain , I real ized I co ul d be fast and safe and hav e a good rhythm and push tow ard s t he front . A t o n e st ag e I coul d win , but it was too hig h a risk to catc h [Te tsuya] Harad a." Th ere wa sn 't much dram a fa rther b ac k aft er Mel andri took over th ird , co urtesy o f Petronas Sp rinta Yamaha ' s Naoki Matsudo who ran off the track on the 14th lap wh ile a distant second to Harada. M elandri was ri ding with a damaged left shou ld er and 10 JUNE 1 3 , 200 1 • cue I e knew th at he cou ld fini sh up the grid if he was consistent. Fourth -place finish er Rob ert o Locatelli said he wa s sliding ar ound too much and came under attack in the fi na l stag es of the race . He was able to hold on , just over th ree sec on ds i n fro n t o f V al encia C i r c u i t A spar T eam ' s Fonsi Nieto. "It was difficult to fi nd a good bal ance for the changi ng condit ion , but I' m qu it e satisfi ed wh en yo u co nsider it was sun -ra in -s u n an d h umid , so fou rth i s okay in t hes e conditions : Locat elli said . Niet o was next , closing at th e end, but still over three-seconds back, with T el efoni ca Mov iS t ar Hond a 's Em ili o Alzamora th e first non -Aprilia. A lzam o ra said this was his first wet rac e on a 250 an d th e condition s w ere e ver changing . He wa s the second of fou r Sp an i a rd s , Team F o m m a ' s D a v id Checa next , thre e-seconds back, then a little over a second to Nieto's team m ate Alex Debon . CN ltar n Grand Prfl M gello, Italy Results: June 3, ZOOl [R ound 5 of 1I I l 25cc Q UAUFYING: I. Youic hi Ui ( 1:59.246) : 2. Ton i Elia s ( 1:5 9 .6 5 6): 3 . Luc io Cecchine ll o ( 1:5 9. 8 7 8 ) ; 4 . And rea Ba llerin i (I :59.8 81); 5. Stefano Perug in i ( 2: 00. 16 5) : 6 . N obb y Ueda (2 :00.231 ); 7. Masao Azu ma (2 :00 .291) : 8. Gi no Bcrsol (2 :00 .305 ); 9. Steve J enkn er (2:00. 309) ; 10. An gel N ieto Jr . ( 2 :0 0 .4 2 0) ; 1 1. Simon e Sanna (2: 0 0 .5 07) ; 12 . Ma nuel Pogg iali (2: 00 .68 6) ; 13 . Glanluigi Scalvini (2:00 .8 35 ); 14 . .Jerc stev Hules (2 :00 .87 8); 15. J amo Mull er (2 :01.011 ); 16. Pab lo Nieto (2:0 1.09 1); 17. Mirko Glense ntl (2 :01. 34 5); 18. Angel Rodriguez (2 :0 1.5 6 2) ; 19. Ale x De An gelis ( 2: 01. 6 12) ; 20 . Max Sabba tani (2 :01. 6 47) ; 21. Arnaud Vincent ( 2: 0 1. 9 0 5 ) ; 22 . Ja k ub Sm rz (2:01. 9 27); 23 . J oan Olive (2:01. 99 8); 24 . An drea Do vlzlo so ( 2 :0 2 . 12 4); 25 . Gabor T elme c s l (2 :02.420); 26 . Eri c Betelll e (2:0 2.425) ; 27 . Marco Petrini (2:02.933 ) ; 28. Aless an dro Brann ett i (2 :02 .94 1); 29. Daniel Pedrosa (2:02 .984 ); 30. Raul J ere (2 :0 3.05 4) ; 31. M ich ele Conti (2:03.19 2); 3 2. Gespere Cafflero (2:03. 76 1); 33 . Phillip Hefeneqer (2 :05.483). 12 5 cc: I. Nobby Ueda (Hon ) ; 2. Gino Borsol (A pr); 3. Manuel Poggiali (Gil); 4 . Toni Elias (Hon) ; 5. Simone Sanna (Apr); 6. Angel Nieto Jr. (Hon) ; 7. Arnaud Vincent (Hon) ; 8 . Masao Azuma (Han) ; 9 . Jamo Muller (Hon); 10. Alex De Angelis (Hon); I I. Andrea Ballermi (Apr): 12. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 13. Alessandro Brarm e tt i (A pr) ; 14. Gabor Talrn e c ai (Hon) ; 15 . J ere erev Hules ( Hon ); 16 . Joan O live (Han ); 17. Raul J ara (Han); 18. Vouichl Ui (Der); 19 . Gespere Caffiero (Apr ) ; 20. Angel Rodriguez ( Apr) ; 2 1. Marco Petrini (Han) ; 22. _ hele Conti (Han); 23 . Daniel Pedrosa (Han) . nme: 45 mlns ., 15.04 6 sees. Distance: 20 laps, 65 .18 mph . Margin of victory: 3.801 sees. Average speed: 86 .43 1 mph. 125cc WORLD C'S HIP POINT STA NDINGS (A ft er 5 01 16 rounds): 1. Gino Borso i (75): 2. (TIE) Maseo Azuma /Manuel Poggial i (72 ): 4. Nobb y Ueda (63 ); 5. Vouic hi Ui (50) : 6. Angel Nieto Jr. ( 43): 7. (TIE) Lucio Cecchinell o/Arnau d Vincent ( 41 ) ; 9 . (T IE) M.irk Giansantiffoni EJias (32); 11. Simone Se nne o (30) : 12. A lex De Enge li s (26) : 13. Steve Jenkner (25); 14. Max Se bbeta ni (22); 15. Jaroslav Hules (15) : 16. Angel Rodriguez ( 10): 17 . (T IE) Daniel Ped rcse /Stefenc Perug in i ( 9) ; 19 . ( T IE) J a rno Muller/pabk> Nieto (7) . 2 5 0cc Q UA LI F YING : 1. Tet su ya Harede (1 :53 .9 22) : 2 . Marcellino Lucchi (1 :5 4 .5 85); 3 . Jeremy McWilliams ( 1:54 .69 1); 4. Randy De Puniet ( I ;54 .9 15); 5. Robert o Locatelli (1 ;55.0 18): 6. Daijiro Katc h (1 :55.024): 7. Franco Battaini (1: 55.248); 8. Marco Mehmdri ( t :5 5. 2 7 2 ): 9 . Alex Debon ( I :5 5. 4 16 ); 10 . Rober t o Ro llo ( 1: 55. 4 26 ) ; I I. Sebastian Porto (1 :55 . 473) : 12 . Fo nsi Nieto ( 1:55.492); 13. Alex Hofmann ( 1:55.709 ); 14. Klaus Nohles ( 1:56. 77 5); 15. Naok i Matsu da ( 1:55.853) ; 16. Sylvain Guintoli ( 1:55.920 ); 17. Emilk> Alzamora ( 1: 5 5 . 9 2 1 ); 18 . Sha hr o l Yu zy (1 :5 6 .375) ; 19. J eron im o V ida) ( 1:5 6 . 7 9 6 ): 20. Dav id C heca (1 ;56.823); 21. Lorenzo Lanzi ( 1:57 .266) ; 22 . Luca Bo sc oscu ro (1 :5 7 . 6 95) : 2 3 . Dav id de Ge e (1 :57.957) ; 24 . D iego G iu go vaz ( 1:5 8 .41 6) ; 25 . Da vid Toma s (1 :58 .5 29 ); 26 . Riccardo Chia rello (1 :59 .361 ) ; 27 . Luis Co sta ( 1:59 .831 ); 28. Katj a Poengsen (2 :00 .698); 29. Cesar Barro s (2:01. 062 ). 25 Occ: 1. Tets uye Harada ( Apr); 2. Roberto Rolfe (Apr); 3. Marco Melandri (A pr); 4 . Roberto Loc atelli (Ap r) : 5 . Fe ns! N ieto ( A pr) ; 6 . Em ilio Alumora (Han); 7. David Checa (Han) ; 8. Alex Deban (A pr) ; 9. Sharhol Vuzy (Yam ); 10. Daij iro Katoh (Han ); 11. Lorenzo Lanzi (Apr); 12. Neoki Matsuda (Yem ); 13. David De Gee (Yam) ; 14. Katja Poengsen (Apr); 15. Jeronimo Vidal ( Apr) ; 16 . Klaus Nohles (Apr); 17. David Tom as (Hon ); 18 . Alex Hoffman ( Apr); 19 . Luis Costa (Yarn }. TIme: 46 mins., 11.129 sees. Distance: 21 laps, 68 .44 miles. Average speed: 88 .9 16 mph. Margin of victory: 12.729 sees. 250cc WORLD C' SHIP POINT STA NDI NGS (A ft er 5 of 16 rounds): 1. Daijiro Katoh (106 / 4 wins): 2. Tetsu ya Harada ( 10 1/1 ); 3. Marco Melandri (7 8) ; 4. Robert o Locate lli (60); 5 . Robe rto Rolfo ( 55) ; 6 . Fonsl Nieto (49 ); 7. (TIE) Emilio Alz.a mora/ Jerem y M cW i ll iam s ( 3 3); 9 . Nao ki M ats ud a (28 ) ; 10. Sebastian Porto (24) ; '11. Alex Holmann (20) ; 12. Tetsuya Harad a Inherited th e lead In the 250cc ra ce aft er Ma rcellino Lucchi cra shed on th e fifth lap . Ha rada hun g on to han d Da lj iro Katoh his first def eat of the year, and he now trails his fello w Japanese ri de r by fi ve points. Franco Battaini ( 19); 13. Alex Debon ( 18) : 14. (TIE) Mauro LucchilShahrol Yuzy ( 13) ; 16. David Chece ( 12); 17. Klaus Nohles (10) ; 18. Sylvain Gulnt oli (7 ): 19. mE) Taro Sekiguchi/l.or enzo Lanzi (6) . 5 0 0 cc QU AL I F Y ING : 1. Valen t ino Rossi (1 :52.554 ) : 2. Kenn y Robe rt s (1 :52.6 88) ; 3. Lori s Capir ossi ( 1:5 2.834): 4 . Max Bla ggi ( 1:5 2.9 42): 5. Alex Barros ( 1:53.021); 6 . Alex Cri vill . ( 1:53. 142) ; 7. Ju rgen van den Goor bergh (1 :53 .241 ); 8. Carlos Chece (1: 53.25 3) ; 9. Tohru Uk a"'a (1 :53.335); 10. Shinya Nakano ( I : 5 3 .4 0 6 ) ; II . Norick A be (1 :5 3 .589 ) ; 12 . Set e Gi be rn au ( 1:5 4. 0 3 6 ) ; 13 . Noriyuk i Haga (1 :54 .09 1) ; 14 . Jose Luis Cardoso (1: 54 .384 ); 15. Chris Wal k er ( 1:54 .827) ; 16. J ay Vincent ( 1:55 .780) ; 17. Haruchi ka Aok i ( 1:56 .390 ); 18. A nth on y West (1 :57 .11 9) ; 19 . Johan Stl gefelt ( 1:57.765) ; 20. Barry Venema n ( 1:58 .009); 21. Mark Willi s (1 :58 .365) 500cc: 1. Alex Barros (Hon); 2. Loris Capirossi (Han ); 3. Max 8i aggl (Vam) ; 4. A lex Crlvill. (Han ); 5. Haruchi k e Aokl (Hon) ; 6. Sete Gibem au (Suz); 7. Tohru Uka wa ( Hon) ; 8 . Shinya Naka no (Yam ) ; 9. Nori ck Abe (Vam ) ; 10 . Noriyuk l Haga (Vam ); 11. Jose Luis Car doso (Y am); 12 . J urge n van den Goorbergh (Pro ); 14. Mar k Will is (Pul ). Tl me: 49 mlns. 26.006 sees. Distance: 23 laps, 74.96 miles. Average speed: 90.986 mph. Margin of victory: 8.359 see. 5 00cc WORLD C'SHIP POI NT STANDINGS (A ft er 5 of 16 rounds): 1. Valentino Rossi (9 1/ 3 wins); 2. Max Biaggi (70/1 ); 3. Loris Capirossi (65); 4. Norick Abe (64 ); 5. Al ex Barro s (60 /1 ); 6. Al ex Cri vill . (57); 7. Shiny a Nak ano (50 ) ; 8. Kenn y Roberts (37 ); 9. Toh ru Uk a.,. (36) ; 10. Set e Gib ern au (29) ; II. Carlos Checa (28); 12. Garry McCoy (27); 13 Jurge n van den Goorbergh (23); 14 . Haruch ika Aok l ( 19 ); 15. Jos e Luis Cardoso (I I); 16. Nonyukl Haga ( 10 ); 17. Chris Wal ker (5); 18 . (TIE) Leon Haslam/ Mark Will is/Anthon y West (3) . (Below left) After the third attempt to MIn the 125cc race, HoboMl Ueda took the victory In the wet race. (Below right) Uke the 125 and SOOcc races, the 250cc race was MIn In horrible conditions. n eVIl's Upcom ing Rounds: Round 6 - Monlmelo, Spain, June 17 Round 7 - Assen, Holland , June 30

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