Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

than the leaders, and in three laps had turned a 6.7 -second gap into nothing. On lap 18, he took the lead as the rain redoubled, and though the others stayed close, they couldn't Nelson Piquet Circuit Rio de Jeniero, Brazil Results; Seplllmber 21, 2002 125cc QUALIFYING; I. Manuel P099101i (157.888); 2. Amoud Vincent (1,58.141); 3. Gabor Tolmocsi (1;58,298); 4. Alex de Angells (1,58.307); van den Goobergh (1 :51.197); 9. Tohru Ukewa (1,51.211); 10. Nobuotsu Aoki (1,51.287); 11. Narick Abe (1:51.476); 12. Loris Cepirossi (1,51.481); 13. Shinyo Nakano (1,51.517); 14. John Hopkins (1,51.624); 15. Alex Barros (1,51.670); 16. Kenny Roberts Jr. (1:51.753); 17. Regis Lllconi (1,51.820); 18. Sete Gibernou (1,51.994); 19. Tetsuya Herada (I :52.339); 20. Jose Luis Cardoso In fact, they were still fully occu- (1,58.527); 7. Pablo Nieto (1,58.552); 8. Daniel Pedrosa (1,58.858); 9, Miko Kallio (1,59.062); 10. pied with one another, and though (1,59.116); 12. Youlchi Ui (1,59.174); 13. Mlrko Poggiali was now ahead, on the last Giansanti (1:59.289); 14. Jorge Lorenzo (1:59.331); 15. Simone Sanna (1:59.424); 16. Joan Olive lap Vincent drafted by on the straight and managed to hold him off all the way to the flag. Hector Barbera (1 :59.079); 11. Gino Borsoi (1,59.254); 17, Andrea Dovizioso (1,59.469); 18. Masao Azuma (1:59.556); 19. Stefano Perugini (1,59.594); 20. Stefano Bianco (1,59.714); 21. Klaus Nohles (1,59.760), 22. Noboru Uedo (1,59.993); 23. Andrea Bolledni (12:00.022); 24. Thomas Luthi Talmacsi was a lone fourth, then Nieto and Perugini, both some way back by the finish. Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo (Derbi) managed to hold off Mika Kallio's Honda over the line the Finn had come through steadily (2,00.032); 25. Marco Simoncelii (2,00.310); 26. Michel Fabrizio (2:00.952); 27.lmre Toth (2,01.618); 28. Choz Davis (2,01.842); 29, Mattia Angeionl (2,02.085); 30. Christian Pistoni (2,02.225); 31. Dario Giuseppetti (2:03.316); 32. Alex Baldolini (2,03.949. 250cc QUALIFYING; 1. Randy de Puniet ( (1,53.939); 2. Sebastian Porto (1.53.959), 3. Toni Eiios (1,53.961); 4. Marco Melondri (153.970); 5. Fans! Nieto (1 :54.002): 6. Roberto Locatelli (1,54.429); 7. Nooki Motsudo (1,54.492); 8. Alex Debon (1,54.881); 9. Roberto Rolfo (1,54.936); 10. from 20th on the first lap. Ui and Jenkner both crashed out the latter rejoining, but out of the points. Franco Battllini (1:55,013); 11. Emilio Alzamora (1,55.242); 12. Casey Stoner (1.55.490); 13. Shohrol Yuzy (1,55.576); 14. Joroslov Hules (1,55.610); 15. &won Ni90n (1,56.053); 16. Joy Vincent (1,56.172); 17. Leon Haslam (l :56.221): 18. David Checa Vincent added another four points to his lead over Poggiali, 214-187. Pedrosa has 166, Cecchinello 132 and Jenkner 122, none scoring points. (1,51.066); 7. Olivier Jacque (1,51.160); 8. Jurgen 5. Lucio Cecchinello (1 :58.405); 6. Steve Jenkner challenge. eN Barros (Han); 5. Loris Capirossi (Hon); 6. Norick Abe (Yam); 7. Olivier Jacque (Yam); 8. Sete Gibernau (Suz); 9. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Hon); 10. Garry McCoy (Y8m); 11. Jose Luis C8rdoso (Y8m); 12. Nobuatsu Aoki (Pro); 13. Tetsuya Hereda (Hon): 14. John Hopkins (Yam). Time: 49 min .. 09.516 sec. Distance: 24 laps. 73.4032 miles Average speed: 89.591 mph Margin of victory: 1.6 sec. 5. Carlos Cheea (I :50.978); 6. Deijiro Keto (1,56.256); 19. Haruchiko Aokl (1,56.337); 20, HU90 Marchand (1,56.509); 21. Eric BOlaille (1,56.787); 22. Hector Faubel (1,57.046); 23. Jokub Smrz (1,57.143); 24. Dirk Heidolf (1,57.271); 25. Raul Jora (1,57.612). MOTOGP QUALIFYING, I. Max Bl0991 (1,50.568); 2. Valentino Rossi (1,50,827); 3. Jeremy McWilliams (1,50.862); 4. Garry McCoy (1,50.927); BRIEFLY••• Max Blaggi. dumped by the factory Yamaha team. has signed to ride a Honda V-five next year. and for two more after that. The move, hinted at in reports from Estoril two weeks ago. ends spec· ulation that he may rejoin Yamaha via the satellite Gauloises team. and also means he will not have the latest-spec factory Hondas. 8iaggi's new contract is with the Pramac team. currently fielding Tetsuya Harada on a two-stroke NSR500. on Dunlop tires. It is a three-year deal. and will be on a Honda RC21 IV, "I was dreaming about riding a Honda again. and Pramac has made my dream come true." said Biaggi. "I have the enthusiasm and willingness of a young boy - I can't wait to start this new adventure, " However. the Pramac team is on a one"year entry only. and will need to make an arrangement with another team with a franchise in order to continue. or negotiate a special deal with Doma. Strong rumors linked the new Pramac team with the sponsorless Pons Honda squad, or with Luis d'Antin's Antena 3 team, both without sponsors for next year. Valentino Rossi has mixed feelings about meeting his great racing rival Max Biaggi on equal motorcycles next season. "This is a good challenge for us. because it is the first time we will have the same bikes. All the time. he has complained that he doesn't have the same bike as me, so for sure it will be interesting to understand which of us is best. - said Rossi shortly after the news had broken, "I think the problem will come if he arrives behind. because he will start to complain that he doesn't have a factory bike. This will be bad for me. because the fans don't know how similar the bikes are, Maybe we will have new parts a little before, but that's nothing. It was the same in 1998 with Mick (when Biaggi raced a Honda to second overall to Mick Doohan). The bikes were the same, or maybe just a tiny difference. but every time he arrived behind he said; ·Ah. I don't have the same bike,'The future of the WCM racing team is in a state of flux. with current sponsors Red Bull almost certain to pull out at the end of this season. This seriously jeopardizes the plan to field Garry McCoy and John Hopkins on Moriwaki Honda V-fives. Both riders are contracted with the team for next year· they took up the sec· ond·year option with Hopkins during the last week. Now they have joined the growing ranks of teams seeking big-money backing for next year. "We intend to continue, said team manager Peter Clifford... But though these things are never certain until they happen. we don't expect it to be with Red Bull," They were seeking a budget increase of about 30 percent, he said, This is thought to take the annual cost to close to $10 million. "It is our plan to run Moriwaki Hondas, but that is not a cheap option, said Clifford, "None of the Hondas is a cheap option." It was understandable, he said. that Red Bull might be disillusioned after two seasons without a race win. '" have no complaint. They have put a lot into the sport over the six years they have been with the team. - Red Bull came in on a rescue deal after the original 1997 sponsor Power Horse failed to come up with the money after the start of the season. The next year they won the British GP with Simon Crafar, with a coupie of other rostrum finishes; in 1999 .Regis Laconi won in Valencia. and in 2000 McCoy won three times. In 2001, however, the Australian broke his wrist early In the year. spoiling a season that had started strongly; and this year he broke his leg after dominating pre-season testing, Other teams who have not yet tied up sponsorship next year include not only the satellite Pons Honda team. to lose their West backing; and d'Antin's Antena 3 Yamaha squad. but also (1,52.747). 125cc GRAND PRIX, 1. Mosoo Azumo (Hon); 2, 125cc WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 12 of 16 rounds): 1. Arnaud Vincent (214/4 wins): 2. Manuel Poggilili (187/3 wins); 3. Daniel Pedrosll (166/1 win): 4. Lucio Cecchinello (132/3 wins); 5. Steve Jenkner (122): 6. (l1E) Simone &tnna/Pablo Nieto (89): 8. Masao Azuma (86); 9. Alex de Angelis Arnaud Vincent (Apr); 3. Manuel PoggiaJi (Gil); 4. Gabor Telmacsi (Hon); 5. Pablo Nielo (Apr); 6. Stefano Perugini (Ite); 7. Jorge Lorenzo (Oer); 8. Mike Kallio (Hon); 9. KlzlUs Nohles (Hon): 10. Lucio Cecchinillo (Apr): 11. Alex de Angelis (Apr): 12. Gino Borsal (Apr); 13. Andrell Dovizioso (Hon); 14. Simon Sanna (Apr); 15. Hector Belrberel (Apr); 16. Andrea Ballerini (Apr); 17. Stefelno Bielnco (Apr): 18. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 19. Christieln Pistoni (Itel); 20. Mirko Gielnsanti (Han); 21. Marco Simoncelli (Apr); 22. Joan Olive (Han); 23. Michel Fabrizio (Gil): 24. Thomas Luthi (Hon); 25. Noburu Uedel (Hon); 26. Delrio Giuseppetti (Hon); 27. Mattia Angeloni (Gil); 28. Imre Toth (Hon); 29. Chaz Davies (Apr). Time: 46 min., 28.675 sec. Distance: 21 laps, 64.227 miles Average speed: 82.91 mph Margin of victory: 1.705 sec. (68); 10. Gino Borsoi (67); 11. Miko Komo (59); 12, Youichi Ui (54); 13. Joan Olive (51); 14. Mirko Gionsonti (39); 15. Andrdo Dovizioso (35). 250cc WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (Aller 12 of 16 rounds): 1. Marco MelllOdri (228/7 wins); 2. Fonsi Nieto (183/3 wins); 3. Roberto Rolfo (160); 4. Sebastian Porto (135/1 Win); 5. Toni Elias (116); 6. Franco Battoini (104): 7. Roberto Locatelli (98); 8. Randy DePuniet (86); 9. Emilio Alzamoro (82); 10. Nooki Motsudo (73); II. Cosey Stoner (54); 12. Alex Debon (52); 13. Shohrol Yuzy (45); 14. Horuchiko Aokl (42); 15. David Checo (36). /IIOTOGP WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS 250cc GRAND PRIX, 1. Sebastian Porto (Yom); (After 12 of 16 rounds): 1. Valentino Rossi (270/10 wins); 2. Max: Biaggi (164/1 win): 3. Tohru Ukewa 2. Roberto Rolfo (Hon); 3. Franco Battaini (Apr): 4. Marco Melandri (Apr); 5. Toni Elias (Apr); 6. Casey Stoner (Apr); 7. Emilio Alzamora (Han); 8. Neoki Metsudo (Yam); 9, Shehrol Yuzy (Yelm); 10. Leon Haslam (Hon); 11. Jaroslev Hules (Yam); 12. David Chece (Apr); 13. Erwen Nigon (Apr); 14. Dirk Heidolf (Apr); 15. Jakub Smrz (Han); 16. Raul Jare (Apr); (156/1 win); 4. Alex Barros (118); 5. Carlos Checo (116); 6. Norick Abe (109); 7. Loris Copirossi (86); 8. Doijl", Koto (80); 9. Kenny Roberts Jr. (74); 10. Olivier Jacque (57); II. John Hopkins (51); 12. Nobuatsu Aoki (47); 13. Shinya Nakano (45): 14. 17. Hector Faubel (Apr), (TIE) Sete Gibemou(Tetsuyo Harada (42). Time: 47 min., 1.307 sec. Distance: 22 leps, 67.286 miles Average speed: 85.856 mph Margin of victory: 14.114 sec. MOTOGP: 1. Valentino Rossi (Han): 2. Max: Bieggi (Yam): 3. Kenny Roberts Jr. (Suz); 4. Alex several factory teams. Honda is in negotiation with Repsol to take up a one-year option; Yamaha has lost Marlboro and has not yet announced a replacement; Suzuki is still negotiating to keep Tele· fonica MoviStar. who are rumored to be getting itchy feet. Fausto Gresini's team. now backed by Fortuna and fielding Kato on a factory Honda. is also still in negotiation. Team Suzuki technical advisor Warren Willing was a surprise absentee from Rio. after the Japanese factory released him early from the remainder of his contract. Willing is expected to join the KTM effort next year, and the factory felt the need to protect their secrets from the Austrian company. KTM plans to field a 125cc team next year, and a full-scale V"four MotoGP effort from 2004, Renowned designer Harald Bartol

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