The four-stroke era got under way in
Japan as the MotoGP class ran Its
maiden event In soaking-wet
conditions at Suzuka. (From left to
right! Norick Abe (61. AkJra Ryo (331.
Caltos Checa 171. Olivier Jacque (191.
and Shinlchl Itoh (721 lead the pack
Into tum one.
year-old, and he'd led most of it. He
believed that he could win, but knew
that Rossi felt the same.
"Toward the middle, I thought
[Valentino] Rossi was in the back and
I was waiting for him to take over
and waiting and waiting because I
wanted to see his race strategy, but
he took his time," said Ryo, who
began testing the GSV-R Suzuki less
than four months ago.
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APRIL 17, 2002
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