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/128375
MOTOGP
-
Round 2
April 17, 2005
World Championship Road Race Series
some points by bringing the bike home,"
he said.
Roberts completed his first race of the
season in 12th, two seconds up on Rolfo
and half a second down on 8ayliss.
"I couldn't make the bike do what I
wanted it to, so we still have some issues
to address before the next race," Roberts
said.
Elias had crashed on Saturday morning
and felt it during his pursuit of Rolfo.
"Physically I wasn't in great shape
because of the pain from my knee after my
fall yesterday," he said.
The final two finishers were Blata
WCM's James Ellison, two laps down, and
Team Roberts' Shakey Byrne, four down.
After a throttle problem hit on the
warmup lap, Byrne rode for points but
CN
missed out by one.
Estoril Circuit
Estoril, Por1l.lgol
Results: April 17, 200S (Round 2 of 17)
MOTOGP QUAUFYING, I. Alex Bam>< (I :37-202): 2.
Sere Gibemau (U7.319): 3. c:.rlo. Che<> (1:37.156): •.
Barros had the lead, now with 8.6 seconds on Rossi, but the rain was increasing.
Barros' lap time increased five seconds
from lap 16 to 17 and was never consistent. It would dip into the 39s and hit the
49s, not that it mattered. Rossi tried in vain
to close at the end but couldn't deny
Barros the win,
"Valentino push at the end to close the
gap - Valentino and Max," Barros said. "I
try to respond, just a little some seconds,
but not so much."
Biaggi backed off at the end with no
threat of being caught from behind.
"It is best to get the podium without
risking everything," he said. "For four or
five more points, you can get zero. We
really need this podium."
Edwards and Melandri made an interesting match until Edwards asserted him-
24
APRIL 27,2005 •
self on the 20th lap. Melandri was struggling with a steaming visor on his new helmet, saying "I had to do the last eight laps
with my visor open."
Within three laps, Edwards had a threesecond lead, then it was gone.
"Finally I got away from him, and I was
pushing in order to keep a space between
us, but I hit that slippery patch at turn one
and went down - it just caught me off
guard," Edwards said.
Quickly up and running, he rode his
damaged M I to sixth.
Checa replaced Edwards as Melandri's
nemesis within a lap, always in his wet
wake. He tried to steal fourth on the last
lap with a hard braking maneuver that
went bad. The Ducati wouldn't stop and
Melandri went under into the slow left. At
the line, the gap was .228 of a second.
CYCLE NEWS
"Fourth was pOSSible, but I braked quite
hard passing Melandri and ran wide,"
Checa said.
Edwards ended up alone in sixth,
with Hayden seventh and glad to see the
day end.
"It seemed like it lasted forever,"
Hayden said.
Nakano held up Kawasaki's honor with
his seventh, a lonely race most of the day.
Same for Capirossi in ninth.
"Overall, I'm happy it's finished,
because I am not suffering too much pain
anymore," he said.
Xaus raced with Roberts and Rolfo until
Bayliss interrupted the group. The move
was unintentional. He had crashed in pursuit of Hayden.
"I got going again, and even though the
handlebars were all twisted, I picked up
Volent.., ""'" (1,37.6<3): 5. Marro _
(1:37.835); 6.
Lom Cap;n>ssi (1:38.00): 7. Cof" Edwaro> (U8.OO3.): 8.
Max Biaggi (U8.009): 9. Nkky Hayden (U8. 123): 10. Sh;nya
Nakano (U8.283): II. John HopIti", (1:38..12): 12. Ruben
x.u. (1,38.9.9): 13. Troy 8ayIiss (U9.0B): I•. Kenny
Robe",j,. (U9.628): IS. Toni Elias (U9.B36): 16. Robeno
RoIfo (1,.1.327): 17. pm.. EII_ (1:.1.699): 18. Shane
Byrne (1,.1.705): 19. Franco Bamunl (1:.1.728).
MOTOGP: I. Alex Barros (Hon); 2. Valentino Rossi
(Yam); 3. Max 8iagi (Hon); ". Marco Melandri (Han); 5.
c:.rlo. Checa (Due): 6. Colin Edwaro> (y=): 7. Nld