Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128152
bad start and problems with the slipper clutch system. Regis Laconi was 15th on the Aprilia triple after twice running off the track. With West Honda's Alex Barros crashing out toward the finish, charging Proton rider Jeremy McWilliams retiring early with gear-shift problems, and teammate Nobu Aoki crashing out after an oil leak, there were just 16 finishers. MS Aprilia's Marco Melandri made no mistakes in the 250cc GP, leading from start to finish - he was able to slow and celebrate on the final lap and still win by three seconds. The race was processional, but came alive in the second part with a toand-fro battle for second. Eventually, pole-starter Franco Battaini (Aprilia) managed to escape, while Fonsi Nieto (Aprilia) employed some rough riding to claim third, ahead of Robbie Rolfo (Honda) and Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia). "Halfway through the race, it was difficult to keep concentrating, because I had such a lead - but I just kept constant and lapped a little slower, concentrating on finishing," said Melandri, adding: "I think I will dedicate this victory to myself, because I worked very hard this weekend." Teenage Australian Casey Stoner made a storming start on his Aprilia, and he held second for the first two laps before crashing heavily in a straight line after a particularly bad trip over the circuit's notorious bumps. Defending champion Manuel Poggiali won a sustained battle of tactics in the 125cc race, taking final control on the last of 24 laps to head an eight-strong pack home. Japanese GP winner Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) was a quarter of a second behind, and Spanish teenager Dani Pedrosa (Honda) was third. MataGP The writing was on the wall from the start, as Rossi leaped away in the lead, closely shadowed by Ukawa. The two booming V-fives held close formation and drew steadily away - a dream for Honda, a nightmare for the rest. Only one rider could match their pace. The heroic Capirossi held the gap with the leader to around one second, his black NSR skipping and weaving over the bumps. Now and .. u .. I • then he would even close up by a fraction ... but it was a hopeless task, and by two-thirds distance the lead had stretched to two seconds, and Capirossi backed off to go for a finish. Things were not so clear-cut up at the front. Rossi led for the first 19 laps, but Ukawa could match his every move, and when Rossi set fastest lap 17th time round, trying to escape, Ukawa responded with an even faster lap of his own, a new record. "I had tried to get away, and tried to keep a fast pace - but Tohru came with me," said Rossi. So Rossi let his teammate through, to follow for a while, staying even closer to the V-five's high-level exhaust pipes than Ukawa had to his. It looked as though he was just biding his time and waiting for his chance - but there was another factor. Tires. Rossi had chosen a medium compound, Ukawa a more conservative harder rear. And now it was beginning to show. Ukawa noticed Rossi's generous slides under braking and under power. All the same, the defending champion got ahead again with three laps to go. Now, all he had to do was hang on to his advantage. But his tires wouldn't let him. The lead changed hands early on the fmal lap when Rossi left his braking a fraction too late for one of the several tight right-handers. He slid out wide, and Ukawa pounced. Rossi had one more attack - into the final tight right - and he did nose ahead under braking. Again, however, he was out of control and sideways, and as he ran wide at the exit, Ukawa dived back underneath to lead him over the line by almost a second. Capirossi was eight seconds back in a lonely but proud third. Behind this trio, Gibernau had been the first to run fourth on the Suzuki, fending off McCoy's Yamaha, followed by Checa's four-stroke Yamaha, after he'd passed Roberts earlier on. Gibernau was losing ground fast by the seventh lap, by when Checa had pushed past McCoy, and next time around, the red Yamaha was in front and pulling away. Gibemau was trying to defend himself from McCoy when his fading tires sent him off the track instead, running across the grass to rejoin right at the back. By now, Roberts had also dropped back, and then pitted. Everyone suspected a tire change, perhaps a deliberate act to demonstrate his lack of faith in the Dunlops. They did change both tires, and he went out again, only to pit once more soon afterward, the bike even more unridable. "When I stopped, it felt like I'd blistered a tire or had a flat, but the rear was visually fine, so I asked them to n e _ S • MAY 1, 2002 7