Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

come through to prevail over Yamaha's Naoki Matsudo and Cibertel Honda's Jay Vincent, the Briton tak- Marco MeIandrt (3J won his second 250cc race of the year, topping Roberto Locatelli (151 and Franco Battalnl. ing the last point. Nieto retained his points lead, 85 to Melandri's 70, with Rolfo on 60, Locatelli on 55, and de Puniet (53) overtaking Alzamora (52). 125cc Mugello's sweeps and speed ensured a terrifyingly close 125cc race, with riders drafting to and fro on the straight and running into the first tum three or more abreast. Amazingly, there were only a few crashes among the leading group. With positions swapping back and forth every lap, there were a slew of leaders: Pedrosa taking the run from the start, then Poggiali, Aprilia's Alex de Angelis, Steve Jenkner, Lucio Cecchinello (after pulling through from 18th on the first lap), and then Nieto, who even broke away by almost a second on lap 13, only to survive a huge moment half-a-lap later and get swamped again. As the action got even hotter in the closing stages, Ui took a turn, before Cecchinello, Poggiali and Nieto each returned to the front. The Spaniard was in front at the start of the final lap, with Ui in fifth. Then Poggiali used his speed to secure a little gap, as Nieto tangled with Pedrosa, matching his opportunistic overtaking with equal determination, but losing touch so that Poggiali gained a half-second gap. Then Ui drafted both Spaniards to lead them across the line by inches. Aprilia's Gino Borsoi was fifth, from Cecchniello, de Angelis and Jenkner, with previous points leader Aprilia's Arnaud Vincent pulling up from a bad start to join the leading gang and pick his way through to ninth, ahead of Ballerini, Sanna, Dovizioso and Azuma. Some ways back, Pellino and Perugini took the last points. Giansanti, Olive and Barbera tangled in the first corner, and all fell; Rodriguez also fell out of the leading group. Poggiali took over the points lead, 86 to Vincent's 85, with Cecchinello on 67, Pedrosa on 66 and Jenkner on 43. CN italian &nnd Pm Mu ello, Italy Results: June 2, 2002 125cc GRAND PRIX Q(lALIFYING: 1. Manuel Poggioli (1 :59.369): 2. Daniel Pedroso (I :59.409): 3. Alex De Angelis (1 :59.536): 4. Steve Jenkner (1:59 ..636): 5. Arnaud Vincent (1:59.714); 6. Gino Borso' (1:59.7381; 7. Jokub Smrz (2:00.014): 8. Lucio Cecchine 10 (2:00.020); 9. Simone SllInnll (2:00.190): 10. Andrea Bollerlnl (2:00.285): 11. Mirko Gians8nti (2:00.312): 12. Andree Dovizioso (2:00.384): 13. Stephono Perugini (2:00.559): 14. Voulchi UI (2:00.602): 15. Joroslov Hules (2:00.625): 16. Mike Kallio (2:00.709); 17. Michel FllIbrizio (2:00.937): 18. Masoo Azumo (2:00.990): 19. Gabor rolmocsi (2:00.993); 20. Gieele Pellino (2:01.027): 21. Sterhano Bianco (2:01.107): 22. Joan Olive (2:01.3 I); 23. Choz Davies (2:01.338): 24. AnQel ~odriguez (2:01.376): 25. Marco Petrini (2:01.887)' 26. Pablo "NIeto (2:02.026); 27. Mattia A~eloni (2:02.059); 28. Cospore Camero (2:02.147): 29 Hector BlIrbere (2:02.345); 30. Jorge lorenzo (2:02.728): 31. Simone Corsi <,2:02.861): 32. Imre roth (2:02.863): 33. Alex Boldohnt (2:03.389). 12Scc GRAND PRIX: I. Manuel Pogg,ioli (Gil): 2. Youchi OJ (Oer); 3. Pablo Nieto (Apr); 4. Daniel Pedrose (Hon); 5. Gino Borsoi (Apr); 6. Lucio Cecchinello (Apr): 7. Alex De Angells (Apr); 8. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 9. Amaud Vincent (Apr); 10. Andree Ballerini (Hon); 11. Simone Sl!anne (Apr); 12. Andrea Dovtzioso (Hon); 13. Masao Azuma (Hon); 14. Gloele Pellino (Apr); 15. Stefano Perugini (ItI); 16. Michel Fabrizio (Gil); 17. Gespare Caffiero (Hon); 18. Chez Dlivies (Apr); 19. Alex Bl!lldolinl (Apr); 20. Jorge Biaggi, Rossi and Ukawa Ileft to right! celebrate on the podium. "That was my best-ever practice lap," said Valentino Rossi, after claiming his fIfth pole in fIve races in the new MotoGP series. Since the last-minute run vaulted him from third to almost six lOths ahead of previous pole man Biaggi's Yamaha, he had a point. In a weekend when the Yamahas had really come good, and the Aprilia as well, Rossi needed some help from the achievement. It came from an unexpected quarter; the Proton KR3 of Nobuatsu Aoki. "He was really fast through the comers, and I followed him,· said Rossi. "Then I got a tow onto the straight.· Kicking up grass on the exits, he made up for what his team had described as two days of messing around. It was the fastest ever. The session had already been historic, with 200 mph exceeded for the fIrst time in the MotoGP class, beating a one-off 200-mph speed recorded by Shinichi Itoh's NSRSOO at Hockenheim in 1993. Laconi's Aprilia had been the first to do it (Ukawa's Honda the only other), the hitherto fast but erratic three-cylinder four-stroke fmding fonn for the fIrst time at the company's test track. He had challenged strongly for the front row throughout the two days, blaming a slip on his last fast lap for ending up fIfth, leading row two. Ahead were the two Yamahas - Checa had generally been the faster, but Blaggi ending up in front in the fInal session, by less than three IOths. "I'd been concentrating on race setup rather than one-off times," said Max. "We have the new chassis okay now. but we're not seeing the fuJI benefIts of it yet.· Checa's bad luck continued, and pole remained elusive. Each rider had one of the new chassis, and his bike gave trouble in the fInal session, so he was obliged to switch to the earlier version. "My good bike wasn't running right from the begjnning of the session. I hope the guys can fIx things for the race,· he said Wistfully. Capirossi was the last front· row man, taking his two-stroke to the very brink in a bid for fastest lap. "I gave it my all. It was a perfect lap - right on the limit. But there will be two different races. It will be difficult to stay with the pace of the four-strokes for the whole race." An increasingly familiar refrain. Laconi's strong time had been helped, he said, by Dunlop's latest qualifying tire; the company having gone further along the road pioneered by Michelin, with a 16.S-inch rear with a bigger crown and larger outer diameter. Alongside him, Olivier Jacque, whose Yamaha two-stroke came through only at the end. Then 200-mph Ukawa, and alongside him Harada, continuing to gain strength on the V4 Honda. This pushed Barros to ninth, echoing teammate Capirossi's concerns about trying to match the four-strokes, with problems of his own. "On the second day, we solved the problems I was having turning, but that provoked one or two other problems," he said. Next, on row three, was Roberts' Suzuki, the ex-champion stronger on the first day, but failing to fInd enough improvement on the second. "We'll try some radical things tomorrow moming - we've run out of ideas that we thought would improve the bike,· he said. Alongside him was the remarkable Aoki, continuing his excellent fonn on the lightweight Proton triple, almost IS-mph down on the strajght, but blinding through the bends. "The Bridgestone qualifying tires are really good, but endurance for the race is a big question. I'll put off my choice until the last minute," he said. Teammate McWilliams was alongside, after a slip on his final lap. "I was about fastest through the middle sections,· he said, bemoaning the Proton's lack of top end. "I wish they could just link 12 and T3 with a short straight." Hopkins ended up 13th. after having been an impressive seventh on the fIrst day - at least partly because this was one track that he had been on before. Talent clearly makes up the other part, but the rookie only found four- lOths improvement on the second day (Rossi and Checa almost a second, Harada 1.4 seconds) and also crashed, forcing him onto his spare bike. Impressive, all the same - ahead of Nakano's Yamaha, van den Goorbergh's Honda and fellow-crasher Kato's Honda. Bayle headed row five from an out-of-sorts Gibemau, wondering why he had failed to improve at all on the second day as he prepared for his 100th GP start, moming crasher Abe and the returned Pere Riba, 20th and last. The MotoGP pole was almost J.5 seconds faster than last year; 250cc pole half-a-second slower, reflecting the loss of Kato from the class, although in fact it was Harada fastest last year. This time, it was Franco Battaini, almost half-a-second clear of second-placed Sebastian Porto, whose Yamaha was the only non-Aprilia in the top six. Class rookie Elias was third, teammate and points leader Nieto fourth, with home hero Melandri leading the second row on the factory Aprilia, from crasher Locatelli, Yuzy's Yamaha and de Puniet's Aprilia. Poggiali's Gilera took the top slot in the 12Scc class in the closing lap, with Pedrosa slotting into second on the Honda and de Angelis (Aprilia) third, knocking long-lime fastest man Steve Jenkner (Aprilia) to fourth. Arnaud Vincent led row two. Lorenzo (Der); 21. Imre Tolh (Hon): 22. Simone Corsi (Hon). Tune: 40 min .. 20.0 J9 sees. Distance: 65.03 miles Average speed: 96.74 mph Margin of victory: .507 sec. Fastest lap: l.JJcio CeccchineUo. lap 4. 1:59.184 l2Scc WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (Alter 5 of 16 rounds): 1. Manuel Poggioli (86/2 wins); 2. Arnaud Vincent (85/1): 3. Lucio Cecchlnello (61/2): 4. Daniel Pedrosli (66): 5. Steve Jenkner (43); b. Gino Borsoi (38); .,. Pablo Nieto (37); 8. Simone Sonna (33): 9. Youichi Ui (30); 10. Masao Azuma (29): 11. Mirko GI.nsonti (26); 12. Miko Kallio (23). 250cc GRAND PRIX Q()ALJFYlNG: 1. Franco Bottionl (1:54.344); 2. Sebastian Porto (1:54.818); 3. Toni Elias (l :54.838); 4. Fansi Nieto (1 :54.975); 5. MlIrco Melandri (I ::55.080); 6. Roberto Locetelli (1:55.095): 7. Shohrol Vuz~ (1:55.647); 8. Randy De Puniet (1 :55.657): 9. Dov,d Checo (1 :56.068); 10. EmiliO Alzemore (I :56.252); II. Tero Sekiguchi (1:56.276); 12. Nooki Motsudo (1:56.283): 13. Heruchike Aoki \1:56.397); 14. Roberto Rolfo (1:56.520): 15. A ex Debon (1:56.593); 16. Raul Joro (1:51.023); 17. Joy Vincent (1:51.493); 18. Vincent Philippe (1:57.974); 19. Hector Feubel (1:57.991); 20. Leon Haslam (1:58.216): 21. Dirk Heldolf (1:58.236): 22. Hugo Marchand (1:58.309); 23. Jomo Janssen (1 :59.031). 250cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Marco Melondri (Apr): 2. Roberto Locetelli (Apr); 3. Fonsi Nieto (Apr); 4. toni Elies (Apr); 5. Rendy De Puniet (APrU' 6. Frenco B8ttainl (Apr); 7. Sebastien Porto (Yem ; 8, Roberto Rolfo (Hon): 9. Shohrol Vuzy (Vom): 10. ovid Checo (Apr): 11. Emilio Alzemore (Hon); 12, Heruchike Aokl (Hon): 13. Vincent Philippe (Apr): 14. Nookl Metsudo (Yem); 15. Jey Vincent (Apr): 16, Hector Faubel (Apr): 17. Raul Joro (Apr): 18. Leon Ho,lom (Hon). time: 40 min., 42.759 sees. Distance: 68.28 miles Average speed: 100.64 mph Margin of victory: .258 sec. Fastest lap: Fonsi Nieto. Lep 21,1:54.812 250cc WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 16 rounds): 1, Fonsl Nieto (85/2 wins): 2. Marco Melondr! (70/2); 3. Roberto Rolfo (60): 4. cue I _ Roberto locatelli (55); 5. Randy De Punle! (53): 6. Emilio Alzemore (52); 7. Frenco Betteini (49); 8. Sebestien Porto (45): 9. Toni Elias (34); 10. Naoki Matsuda (29): 11. Alex Deban (29): 12. Osemu Miyazaki (25/1). MotoGP QaALlFYING: 1. Valentino Rossi (1:51.258): 2. Max Bioggi (1:51.B37); 3. Carlos Checo (I :52.086); 4. Lori' Coporossi (1 :52.1 07): 5. Regis Laconi (1 :52.237); 6. Olivier Jecque (1:52.345); 7. Tohru Uko",o (1:52.434); 8. Tetsuyo Harada (I :52.532): 9. Aiex Borro' (1 :52.630); 10. Kenny Robens Jr. (1 :52,656); 11. Nobuetsu Aoki (1:52.740): 12. Jeremy McWilliam' (1:52.751): 13. John Hopkins (1:52.923); 14. Shinya Nakano (1:52.990): 15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (1:53.040): 16. Deijiro Keto (I :53.] 20); 17. Jean Michel Bayle (1 :53.440); 18. Sete G!bemou (1 :53.493): 19. Norick Abe (1:53.765); 20. Pere Riba (1:54.882). MatoGP RACE: 1. Valentino Rossi (Han): 2. Max Blaggi (Yllm); 3. Tohru Ukawll (Han); 4. Carlos Checa (Yam); 5. Alex Barros (Han); 6. Loris Capirossi (Han); 7. Norick Abe (Yam): 8. Regis Ulconi (Apr); 9. Olivier Jacque (Yam); 10. Tetsuya Harlldll (Hon); 11. Shinya Nakano (Yam): 12. John Hopkins (Yllm); 13. Jean·Michel Bayle (Yam): 14. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (Han), TIme: 43 min.• 40.837 sees. Distance: 74.79 miles Average speed: 102.73 mph Margin of victory: 2.404 sec. Fastest lap: TohnJ Ukawa. lep 2, 1:52,601 MotoGP WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 5 of 16 rounds): I. Valentino Rossi (120/4 wins); 2. Tohru Ukawa (77 It): 3. Loris Cepirossi (55); 4. Norlck Abe (52); 5. Max Bloggi (43); 6. (ne) Corlos Checo/A1ex Bomos (40): 8. Doijiro Koto (39); 9. Nobu.tsu Aokl (28): 10. Regis Loconl (26): 11. Olivier Jllcque (22); 12. Tetsuye Harada (21): 13, Aklro Ryo (20): 14. Kenny Roberts Jr. (19): 15. John Hopkins (18). Upcoming Rounds: Round 6: Catalunya, Spain, June 16 Round 7: Assen, Holland, June 29 n _ _ so • JUNE 12, 2002 23

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