Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

World Championship Road Race Series Round 9: Sachsenring nau on 158. No-score Biaggi has 130, Capirossi 97 and Bayliss 80. And Nieto? He was having a typically adventurous time, after a long and fast run across the grass on lap eight. 250cc GRAND PRIX He made it back to the track and rode straight across it, right in front There were not many in the race, but it was another good one, as the class regains some of its former life. This was largely because the track favored the Hondas, for pretty much the first time this year. Matsudo's Yamaha might have played a part as well, but he was one of five eliminated in the first corner, along with Gemmel, Faubel, Marchand and Olive. The last two rejoined, but only Olive made the finish, out of the points and a lap down. Rolfo took off in the lead, with pole man Porto behind, then Nieto third on the top Aprilia, then de Puniet, Battaini and Guintoli. Poggiali finished 10th after a bad start, Elias 14th after switching to his spare before the warm-up lap and starting from the back of the grid. By the fifth lap, the first six were well clear of the pursuit, de Puniet of Poggiali, who had to jam on the brakes to avoid a collision. The two of them were more than three seconds off the front gang, but together they passed Battaini and moved steadily up toward the leaders again, Nieto setting the lap record on the 16th lap. By then he was alone again. Poggiali had "pushed too hard," as he later admitted, and run off onto the grass, where he crashed at walking speed, scrambling back to re-join a distant 10th behind Elias, lucky that the rest of the field was so spread Puniet (lOS) and West (104) are close enough to be threatening. As Rolfo said: "The season starts here." eN Sachsenring Sachsenring,6ennany Results: July 27, 2003 lRaund 9J MoloGP QUAUFYING, 1. Mox Bioggi (1,23.734): 2. Jeremy McWilliams (1:23.736); 3. Loris Capirossi (1,24.058); 4. Volentino Rossi (1,24.253): 5. Sete Gibemou (1:24.287); 6. Troy Boyliss (1:24.465): 7. Carlos Checa (1:24.423); 8. Tohru Ukcwa (124.492); 9. Nobuotsu Aoki (I :24.574); 10. Shinyo Nokono (1:24.592); II. Alex Borros (1,24.745): 12. Marco Melandri (1:24.781); 13. Colin Edwards (1.24.794): 14. Kenny Roberts Jr. (1,24.913); 15. Nicky Hayden (1 :24.961): 16. Norick Abe (1:24.981); 17. Noriyukl Hogo (1,25.008): 18. Olivier out. Nieto passed Porto on lap 20, and one lap later he was with the surviving trio up front, still led by de Puniet. Almost simultaneously, Guintoli slid off. Now there were three left, and with five laps to go Rolfo started to (Above) Rolfo (center) was, not surprisingly, jubilant on the victory rostrum. (Left) In an Aprilia sweep, Stefano Perugini (7) won the 125cc Grand Prix over Casey Stoner (27). while Alex De Angelis (15) was third. now up to third. Poggiali had moved up to seventh and was outdistancing the lone West, battling traction problems through the fast turns that meant he was losing everything he made up through the tight sections. Both had been held up by fast-starting but slow-lapping Debon, a role he often fills. "The front guys had got too far ahead by the time I got by," said West. Not too far for Poggiali on the very fast factory Aprilia, however, and he got his head down to work on a gap of almost four seconds. exploit his handling advantage, taking the lead again in the last corners on lap 24 and staying there to the finish, under relentless pressure all the way. On the last lap, they ran into the first corner three abreast, but Rolfo held the advantage, while Nieto stole second. Then halfway around, Nieto had a big slide that bought Rolfo a few inches of space. Even so, Rolfo's win was by less than two tenths, and de Puniet a similar distance behind. Porto was five seconds adrift, Battaini almost 10 seconds behind, and West all alone five seconds behind him. Porto started to drop back slightly Poggiali had caught and passed Elias, but the Spaniard stuck with him and got by on the last lap when Poggiali ran wide in the final corners. from lap seven, after de Puniet had passed him, and by half distance he was fourth. By now de Puniet had taken the lead, and fast-improving Poggiali still leads on points, but just by three - 129 to Nieto on 126 teammate Guintoli was up to third. Battaini was starting to lose touch. 12 AUGUST 6, 2003' eye I (1:27.281); 15. Hector Foubel (1,27.409); 16. Hugo Marchand (1:27.482); 17. Chllz Davies (1:27.512); 18. Dirk Heidolf (1 :27.568); 19. JZlkub Smrz (1:27.656); 20. Johon Stigerelt (1:27.768); 21. Eric Botoille (1,28.057): 22. M"" Neukirehner (1,28.458); 23. Lukas Pesek (I :28.563): 24. Christian Gemmel (1 :28.670): 25. Tomas Polonder (I :29.191): 26. Henk van den lllgeml:lat (1:30.214); 27. Vesa Kallio (130.377); 28. Norman Ronk (1:30.725): 29. KOljo Poensgen (1 :31. 103). 250 GRAND PRIX: I. Roberto Rolfo (Hon); 2. Fonsi Nieto (Apr); 3. Rl:Indy De Puniet (Apr); 4. Sebastian Porto (Han); 5. Frllnco Battllini (Apr); 6. Anthony West (Apr); 7. Toni Elias (Apr); 8. Manuel Paggiali (Apr); 9. Alex Debon (Han); '10. Alex Boldolini (Apr): 11. Dirk Heidlor (Apr): 12. Choz Davies (Apr); 13. Jakub Smrz (Hon); 14. Erwan Nigon (Apr); 15. Max Neukirchner (Han); 16. Lukas Pesek (Yam); 17. Joan Olive (Apr); 18. Katja Poensgen (Han); 19. Vesa Kallio (Yam). Time: 42 min., 6.199 sec. Distance: 29 laps, 66.004 miles Average speed: 94.060 mph and Rolfo on 122. Elias (106), de e n e vv s Joeque (1,25.038): 19. Makoto Tomodo (1:25.360); 20. Garry McCoy (1 :25.563): 21. Alex Hofmann (I :26.003); 22. John Hopkins (I :26.247); 23. Ryuichi Kiyonari (1 :26.296): 24. Andrew Pitt (1,26.302); 25. Dovid De Gea (1,26.727). fflotoGP: I. Sete Gibernau (Hen): 2. Valentino Rossi (Han); 3. Troy Bayliss (Duc): 4. Loris Capirossi (Duc); 5. Nicky Hayden (Hen): 6. Tohru Ukewe (Hon); 7. Shinya Nakano (Yam); 8. Carlos Cheel' (Vam); 9. Olivier Jacque (Yam); 10. Norick Abe (Yam); 11. Nobuatsu Aoki (Pro); 12. Jeremy McWilliams (Pro); 13. Makola Tamllda (Hen); 14. Colin Edwards (Apr): IS. Kenny Roberts (5uz); 16. Gllfry McCoy (Ko!lw); 17. Alex Hofmann (Kaw); 18. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Hen): 19. Andrew Pitt (Kew); 20. Dovid De Geo (Sab). Time: 42 min .. 41.180 sec. Distance: 30 laps. 68.280 miles Average speed: 95.974 mph Margin of victory: .060 sec. Fastest lap: Max Biaggi, lap 8, 1:24.630 MoloGP WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 16 rounds): 1. Valentino Rossi (187/3 wins); 2. Sete Gibemau (158/4 wins); 3. Max Biaggi (130/1 win); 4. Loris Cap;rossi (97/1 win); 5. Troy Bayliss (80); 6. Tohru Ukawa (66); 7. Carlos Checa (65): 8. Shinya Nakano (63): 9. Alex Borros (62); 10. Nicky Hayden (57); 11. Olivier Jacque (50); 12. Colin Edwards (42); 13. Makoto Tamada (40); 14. Noriyuki HZlga (30); 15. Norick Abe (24). 250 GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING: I. Sebastian Porto (1 :25.728); 2. Roberto Rolfo (1 :25.891); 3. Franco Battaini (I :25.944); 4. Fonsi Nieto (1,25.963); 5. Rondy De Puniet (1:26.032); 6. Manuel Poggizlli (1 :26.104); 7. Naoki Matsudo (1:26.116); 8. Sylvoin Guintoli (1:26.381): 9. Toni Elios (1 :26.517); 10. Anthony West (I :26.878); 11. Joon Olive (1,27.099); 12. Alex Boldolini (1,27.212); 13. Alex Debon (1:27.241); 14. Erwan Nigon Margin of victory: .150 sec. Fastest lap: lap 16,1:26.469, Fonsi Nieto 250 WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 16 rounds): I. Manuel Poggiali (129/3 wins) 2. Fonsi Nieto (126/1 win); 3. Roberto Rolfo (122/1 win); 4. Toni Elias (106/2 wins); 5. Randy De Puniet (105/1 win); 6. Anthony West (104/ I win); 7. Franco Battaini (98); 8. Sebastian Porto (87); 9. Naoki Matsuda (60); 10. Sylvain Guintoli (58). 125 GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING: I. Stefano Perugini (1:27.717); 2. Alex De Angells (1:27.771): 3. Hector Barbera (I :28.022); 4. Lucio Cecchinello (I :28.097); 5. Cosey Stoner (I :28.223): 6. Andrea Dovizioso (1 :28.291); 7. Daniel Pedrosa (I :28.355); 8. Gino Borsoi (I :28.392); 9. Steve Jenkner (1 :28.457); 10. Simone Corsi (I :28.459); II. Mirko Gionsanti (1:28.482): 12. Mika Kolio (1,28.536): 13. Pablo Nieto (1 :28.559); 14. Youiehi Ui (1 :28.595); 15. Thomas Luthi (1 :28.620); 16. Gioele Pellino (1:28.703): 17. Gabor Tolmaesi (1:28.766): 18. Fabrizio Lai (1:28.820); 19. Jorge Lorenzo (I :28.951): 20. Marco Simoneelli (1,29.055); 21. Robbin Harms (1 :29.600); 22. Roberto Loca1eUi (1,29.657): 23. Alvoro Boutisto (I :29.691); 24. Arnaud Vincent (1 :29.723); 25. Julian Simon (1:29.742): 26. Imre Toth (I,29.966): 27. Manuel Mickan (1 :30.252); 28. Emilo Alzamora (1 :30.336); 29. Dario Giuseppetti (I :30.351); 30. Jascha Buech (I :30.405): 31. Mike De Meglio (1,30.830): 32. Masao Azuma (1 :30.956); 33. Stefano Bianco (1,31.237); 34. Jorno Muller (U 1.395); 35. Patrick Unger (1:31.764): 36. Leon Camier (1:31.784): 37. Peter Lenart (1:32.099). 125 GRAND PRIX: 1. Stefano Perugini (Apr); 2. Casey Stoner (Apr); 3. Alex De Angelis (Apr): 4. Daniel Pedrosa (Hon); 5. Pablo Nieto (Apr): 6. Gabor Talmacsi (Apr); 7. Andrea Dovizioso (Hon): 8. Lucio Cecchinello (Apr); 9. Simone Corsi (Han); 10. Mika Kallio (Hon); II. Mirko Giansanti (Apr); 12. Marco Simoncelli (Apr); 13. Giole Pellion (Apr); 14. Hector Barbera (Apr); 15. Fabrizio Lai (Mal); 16. Robbin Harms (Apr); 17. Gino Borsoi (Apr); 18. Roberto Locatelli (KTM); 19. Dario Giuseppetti (Han); 20. Julian Simone (Mal); 21. Jorge Lorenzo (Der); 22. Peter Lenart (Hon); 23. Leon Camier (Hon). Time: 40 min., 11.124 sec. Distance: 27 laps. 61.452 miles Average speed: 91.753 mph Margin of victory: .212 sec. Fastest lap: lap 7, 1:28.490, Pablo Nieto 125 WORLD C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 9 of 16 rounds): 1. Daniel Pedrosa (137/3 wins); 2. Stefano Perugini (117/2 wins); 3. Lucio c'ecchinello (105/2 wins); 4. Andrea Dovizioso (102); 5. Steve Jenkner (98/1 win); 6. Alex De Angelis (92); 7. Pablo Nieto (88); 8. Hector Bl:Irbera (67); 9. Youichi Ui (64); 10. Casey Sloner (60).

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