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/128374
(Above) Danl PecI~1CI (1) wa..... cla.s of the 2SOCC fleW, the defending World Champion easily winning the 2SOcc GP. gap to Nakano. Barros was also coming through from an even slower start, also passing Bayliss before half distance, while Edwards closed up behind the Australian. Barros headed them all by the time they caught Nakano on lap IS, now with Tamada behind him, Bayliss hanging on, Edwards heading Checa, then Biaggi, and Alex Hofmann on the second Kawasaki. Checa later complained that a touch from Tamada hurt his shoulder again. Barros was ahead of Nakano on lap 16, but the Kawasaki stayed close to the finish, Bayliss almost a second behind at the flag. By now, Biaggi was up to seventh, two seconds behind, passing a fading Tamada on lap 22. It was a fair ride - or would have been, for anyone other than Honda's top factory rider - after qualifying 16th, finishing lap one 17th and taking a couple more to get up to speed. "I know I gave my best," he said later. "Nothing more was possible. It's already a result that I didn't fall." Tamada narrowly fended off Edwards, with Checa 10th, two seconds adrift. Three more crossed the line and then came Hofmann on the second Kawasaki, underlining the green machines' huge improvement. Toni Elias was 12th, an Impressive enough start for a steadfast rookie. A disconsolate and pained Capirossi managed 13th in spite of his fresh ankle injury. Hopkins was another 17 seconds behind, somewhat regrettln. his choice of softer tires. Class rookie Robbie Rollo was 24 APRil 20, 2005 • another 14 seconds down on the d'Antin Ducati, then came the WCMs of James Ellison and Battaini one lap down, and two more laps behind was Xaus. Roberts had been no higher than 14th when his throttle response went crazy on lap 12. "I felt the bike made a sudden unexpected movement and knew straight away I would have to come in," he said. The only other nonfinisher was Shayne Byrne on the Proton KR KTM. which lasted only two laps before a spluttering misfire that had shown up in morning warmup forced him to retire. eN CIRCUIT DI JIUZ JEREZ, SMtN RISULTSJ APatL (ROUND 10,2005 1 OF 17) MotoGP QUALIFYING: I. Valentino Rossi (I :]9.419); 2. Sete Gibernau (1:]9.915);]. Marco Melandri (1:40.179); 4. Nicky Hayden (1:40.465); 5. Shlnya Nakano (I :40.542); 6. Loris Capirossi (I :40.648); 7. HakalO Tamada (1:40.707); 8. Alex Barros (1:40.720); 9. ltoy Bayliss (1:40.774); 10. Alex Hofmann (1:40.812); II. john Hopkins (1:40.825); i2. Carlos Checa (1:40.948); 13. Toni Elias (1:41.029); I". Kenny Roberts Jr. (1:41.058); IS. CoIJn Edwards (1:41.176); i6. M8118iaai (1:41.233); 17. Ruben Xaus (1:42.286); 18. Robeno Rolfo (1:43.523); 19. Franco Banalnl (1:44.576); 20. Shane Byrne (1:44.728); 21..1Ellison (I :44.833). MotoGP: I. Valentino Rossi (Yam); 2. S- GIbemau (Hon); ]. Marco MeIandrI (Han); 4. Alex Barros (Hon); 5. 5hlnya Nakano (Kaw); 6. Troy Bayliss (Han); 7. Max 8laal (Hon); 8. Hakoto Tamada (Hon); 9. CoIln Edwards (Yam); 10. Carlos Checa (Due); II. Alex Hofmam (Kaw); 12. Toni Elias (Yam); I]. Loris Caplrossl (Due); 14. John Hopklns (5uz); IS. Roberto Rolfo (Yam); 16. James Ellison (Bla); 17. Franco Battalnl (Bla); 18. Ruben XaIlS (Yam). Time: 45 min.. 4].156 sec. DiIance: 27 iaps, 74.041 miles Awrqe speed: 97.16 mph M....... of ¥Ictory: 8.631 sec. F_1ap1 Valentino RoAl,Iap 5, 1:40.596 MOTOV WOIlLD C' ~flf11 5.~=(l..ntj (9): 8. JoWiolD 1iii1fdi CYCLI NIWS ST~