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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128120
Another to fall far short of expectations - though for more honorable reasons - was Jurgen van den Goorbergh, who had posted the Proton KR3's first front-row qualifying position since 1998, and took a flying start - only to run into almost terminal front tire chatter problems on the fast corners. He dropped backward rapidly from fifth on lap one to retire. "I've only had that kind of problem two or three times in my career," he said ruefully. "And it had to happen again today." This left the best of the rest to a torrid three-way battle for second, won by former champion Alex CrivilIe, just 3.3 seconds behind Rossi at the end. It was the Repsol Honda rider's second podium this season, and his best result since winning the French GP more than a year ago. He had Loris Capirossi's West Honda only inches behind him, with longtime second-placed man Antena 3 Yamaha's Norick Abe a similar distance from Capirossi. "When Biaggi crashed, I upped my pace a bit, until I managed to get past Abe, then did whatever I could to defend my position," said Criville. Capirossi's comments were generous. "I made a bad start and got knocked off the track on the first lap. I was starting to improve my position, and when I saw Biaggi's crash, I thought there might be a chance to get on the podium," he said. "I tried to pass Alex on the last lap, but I made a mistake - but I am happy for Alex, because he crashed after we collided in Germany." Repsol Honda's Tohru Ukawa was only another 2.5 seconds away in fifth, holding off Garry McCoy, who blamed having to work his Red Bull Yamaha's tires too hard in the early stages for being unable to attack at the finish. Then came Carlos Checa, Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki's Sete Gibernau and a distant Alex Barros, with Biaggi five seconds behind him. MS Aprilia's Tetsuya Harada won a rather processional 250cc race, with a good battle for second, won at the last gasp by his teammate Marco Melandri from points leader Daijiro Katoh. The pair changed places only twice in the race, but it was a relentless fight all the same. Valencia Aprilia ridei Fonsi Nieto was fourth, his best finish ever. It was Harada's second win of the year, but it barely made a dent in Katoh's points lead, still 35 ahead. If there had only been just the 125cc race, the huge crowd could have gone home satisfied. It was a breathtaking epic, and a monumental Kenny Roberts Jr. 11) got the holeshot and held the lead early on, but Blaggi 131. Rossi 1461 and company were quickly past the current world champion. victory for the new teenage star of the GP series, Toni Elias. The Telefonica MoviStar Honda rider led the early stages, then held his head up in a sixstrong group of high-class runners. He started the last of 19 laps lying fourth, and forced his way through to the lead by the final corners. His last rival, Simone Sanna, crashed out trying to hold the flying Spaniard back in the final chicane, and he took the second victory of his career in the finest style. MS Aprilia's Lucio Cecchinello was second, and Steve Jenkner was third. Erstwhile points leader, Gilera's Manuel Poggiali, crashed out while struggling to stay in the top ten, and Elias also took over the championship lead. with Abe chasing hard. Van den Goorbergh was with them for the first lap, but went rapidly backwards thereafter. Then it was Kenny's turn to start slipping away - Biaggi sweeping past into the first corner at the start of lap three, and Rossi doing the same on the third comer two laps later. From then on, it was all about the two great rivals. Max opened up a slender lead of six tenths on lap six, Rossi closed up again over the next two laps, but Biaggi still seemed in control as Rossi bided his time, waiting for the tires to go off. Then, suddenly, it was all over, at the left-hander leading out of the natural bowl where the fans of both riders decorated the hillside with adjacent blocks of yellow and red. It was SOOcc RACE Tile race of the day started well enough, and remained exciting until after half distance. Roberts took a flier from the second row to lead Biaggi and Rossi for the first two laps, Gany McCoy was back on fonn at Bmo after struggling with the lingering effects of his broken wrist at the Sachsenring in Gennany last month. McCoy ended up finishing sixth. Here he chases Repsol Honda's Alex Criville 128), who had his best result of the year finishing in second position. cue I e n EO _ S • SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 27