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/128154
Valentino Rossi stayed on top at Jerez, claiming his third consecutive pole in the three-raceold MotoGP season. But the opposition closed the gap and pushed him hard, with the twostrokes chasing the new four-stroke V5 aU the way to a lap time rather surprisingly only six tenths faster than last year. The main reason was the full resurfaCing, that meant a smoother but slippery and dusty surface, which improved radically over the two days of practice, but still had some way to go before achieving maturity, and was still slippery off line. Revealingly, at a circuit without long straights and strewn with highly technical comers, the other three bikes on the front row were two-stroke 500s, faster than all but one of the new 990cc four-strokes. Rossi's time improved continuously, as the rivals drew closer. At one stage, Alex Barros' West Honda NSR two-stroke moved ahead. but only for a few seconds, because Rossi's Repsol RCV four-stroke was close behind and going even faster. "We have a good setup for the race, and we did a great lap in the morning free training: Rossi said. "I thought I could go faster in the afternoon, but it was pretty windy. But the bike has come a long way since we tested here in November." Barros remained his closest challenger, ending up just over three tenths slower. "I did a great lap, with good rhythm: the Brazilian said. "All that remains is to be able to do that comfortably, and be more consistent. I still don't have the perfect bike, but we are working hard to improve it." His teammate Capirossi made a big jump on the second day to slot in just half-a-tenth behind him. "I concentrated today on preparing for the race rather than going for an ultra-quick lap time, so my position on the grid is even more pleasing," Capirossi said. Alongside him came Daijiro Kato, Fortuna Honda-mounted class rookie. "I am feeling better all the time on a 500," the 250cc Champion said. "But there is still more to come." Carlos Checa had a strong aftemoon to move up to fifth overall to head a second row that reversed the position - three four-strokes and one two-stroke. "I had to ride very hard: said the Marlboro Yamaha rider. "The rear still has too much grip and pushes the front. 1can't ride the whole race like this." Alongside him came South African GP winner Ukawa's Honda four-stroke, then Max Biaggi on the second Marlboro Yamaha, complaining: "I have to brake earlier than on the 500, so I'm getting passed into the comers by some of the 500s." A heartening comment for Olivier Jacque (Gauloises Yamaha), alongside. Kenny Roberts Jr. led row three. clearly much happier on Michelin tires, and enjoying sliding the Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki four-stroke. "It's the first time for over a year I've had a bike I can slide where I want to and not lose time: Roberts said. "I want to enjoy riding the bike and go fast. We're not there yet, but it's a big Improvement." Abe's Yamaha two-stroke was alongside, then a much-improved Harada's Pramac Honda two-stroke, heading Jeremy McWilliams on the Proton - the U1sterrnan had been eighth in the morning, but missed his chance at a fast lap on qualifiers by leaVing it too late at the end of the session. Gibemau led row four on the second Suzuki, ahead of Nakano (Yamaha). Aoki (Proton) and U.S. rookie John Hopkins (Red Bull Yamaha), who was much improved. "This is my best grid position of the season: Hopkins said. "I improved 2.3 seconds from yesterday, after reaily concentrating on the track last night, and thinking about where I could make up some time." Hopkins headed not only van den Goorbergh's Honda NSR but also his own GP-winning teammate, Garry McCoy, who found his wild sliding style a disadvantage at a track where moving even slightly off line put you into seriously slippery conditions. Behind McCoy, Laconi's four-stroke Aprilia and Riba's two-stroke Yamaha completed the field. Italian Aprilia rider Franco Battaini (Aprilia) claimed pole positiPn in the 250cc class. (Below) The factory Yamaha team of Blaggi (31 and Checa (7) had a day they would both rather forget. Blaggl was disqualified for ignoring a black flag after jumping the start, which would have brought him in for a stop-and-go penalty. Checa's bike broke six comers from the finish. Kenny Roberts Jr. (101 leads Rossi (461. Blaggi (31. Ka10 (741. Loris Caplrossl (651 and Carlos Checa (71 early In the race. Roberts would go on to finish eighth. "The bike moved maybe 20cm on the line, so I braked and put my foot down... I didn't gain any advantage," Biaggi later said. "Then, the stop-andgo board was surrounded by so many other boards I didn't even see it." Checa's crew blamed an electrical failure for his breakdown. The MotoGP class protests came at the very back of the points, where 15th and McWilliams to 16th, just out of the points after battling brake and tire problems all race long. The other argument came after a hard-fought 125cc race, during which defending champion Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) had an extraordinary collision while battling in the leading group with San Marino rider Alex de Angelis (ApriJia). It looked like a deliberate action as he swung across on the straight, took away the April- Aprilia rider Regis Laconi, originally classified 16th, complained that after Spanish police had come onto the track and yellow flags were shown, he was overtaken by Garry McCoy (Red Bull Yamaha) and Jeremy McWilliams (Proton). They said he was so far off the race pace they thought he was stopping, but his protest was upheld after an appeal, and each had five seconds added to their race time ... promoting McCoy's teammate Hopkins to 13th, Laconi to 14th, and dropping McCoy to cue. _ n _ _ S • MAY IS, 2002 25