Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

World Championship Road Race Series Round B: British Grand Prix Melandri's crash at the chicane. His flailing Yamaha meant everyone behind him - and he was lying fourth - had to slow. It gave the three up front a three-second breathing space. Gibernau was behind Rossi but having trouble hanging on. On lap seven he was wide through the chicane and lost a second. He was never a factor again. When would Rossi pass Biaggi? The question was never answered. On the 13th lap Biaggi outbraked himself into the chicane, ran wide and let Rossi through. At the end of that lap he was 1.6 seconds ahead, {]j)CfJUD @[J uDD@ {]j)@@liDUD[i}g 5JIJljJDD@UD[lJ--_~_Q ~ _ Perhaps the award should' go to Fonsi Nieto, who has finally rediscovered race-vlinning form. But we already knew he could win. It was another 250cc rider who had something to prove - and did it: Australian Anthony West. West has come back from oblivion, afler his move to the 500cc class came to nothing on an out-of-power V-twin Honda and he found himself jobless last year. The ride with the Abruzzo team was a lifeline and the machine not too bad either - an ex-fa<:tory Aprilia. And in his first race at Suzuka he charged through to the top five before crashing out. A.fler that, West ran into setup and confidence problems. It was at Catalunya that it all came together, when they switched the bike back to Suzuka settings to start again. West fought his way to third. At Assen two weeks later he rode to a fine first win. But that was in the rain, and wet Assen often gives freak results. Donington Park was where he really proved the depth of his challenge. "I really wanted to do well here to prove that I didn't just luck into my Assen win: he said. He did exactly that. record, fully 1.2' seconds faster than the old one. TV pictures later showed he had started the lap diving inside Capirossi at Redgate with flags clearly being waved on the corner approach. Nothing was done at the time, however, and the race went on Rossi through to second by the end of lap three and dogging Biaggi's every move. Past experience suggested that he was playing with his rival and that he had something in hand for later. The choice of tires suggested the same: Biaggi had gone for a softer rear, and Rossi's harder tire might pay dividends later in the race. The fifth lap was crucial for their rivals. They'd still been close, until 28 JULY 23,2003' cue I e n e vv s and though the gap wavered up to two seconds at times as first one then the other would push for a fast lap, it never got any smaller, and he was keeping Rossi honest. Until the last lap, when he had the chance to entertain the capacity crowd with the odd slide and little wheelie, crossing the line 1.2 seconds clear. Gibernau was another seven seconds adrift at the finish, and though Rossi's penalty shuffled the top three, they were still far enough ahead not to worry about anybody else. Behind them, the race had formed into two groups by one-third distance. Capirossi had escaped from the first gang in fourth, and Checa also had a bit of a comfort zone, but behind him Jacque, Bayliss, Edwards and

• Cover