Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

MOTOGP stages. Fortuna Yamaha's Ruben Xaus was 10th, and Estoril winner Alex Barros and his Camel Honda ended up I Ith after a ride-through penalty for a jumped start. Fortuna Yamaha's Toni Elias also had a ride-through penalty for starting a few meters from his correct position - he had lined up on a 125/250 four-per-row grid slot, rather than the three-per-row MotoGP position, and had run strongly with the leaders in the early laps. Camel Honda's Troy Bayliss crashed out unhurt with 18 laps to go; soon after, Marlboro Ducati's Carlos Checa also fell under braking, trying to make up ground from a shocking start. Kawasaki's Shinya Nakano retired with a misfire after one lap. Rising Australian star Casey Stoner continued to lead a revival of good 250cc racing, the Aprilia rider holding off a strong race-long challenge from I25cc World Champion Andrea Dovizioso to win a second-successive 250cc race, leading almost from the start and outpacing all the opposition except his Italian rival. The pair was seldom more than a few feet apart, but Stoner had enough on the last lap to maintain his advantage over the line by a quarter of a second. "I surprised myself a little bit because I thought I was more competitive in the dry than the wet," Stoner said later. "I knew Dovizioso was there, and I knew what he would try to do after racing him in 125s. I always thought I had the last lap under control." Honda-mounted Hiroshi Aoyama emerged the final victor of what had been a close battle for third, with Alex de Angelis dropping away on the last lap. Defending champion Dani Pedrosa led off the line but was soon swamped, dropping to a distant sixth at the finish, saying later: "I hate the Round 3 May 1, 2005 ~ wet - it's my best-ever finish in the rain." Italian second-year 125cc racer Mattia Pasini used his elbows to claim the narrowest of first GP wins in the delayed first race of the day, after stalking longtime leader Fabrizio Lai and attacking on the long straight. Lai got back ahead into the last turn, only to be pushed brusquely aside to finish second by .065 of a second. /; Hungarian KTM rider Gabor Talmacsi was third, losing touch only in the closing stages. Estoril winner and pole qualifier Mikka Kallio dropped back to I I th, making this the 42nd 125cc race without a consecu- Marco Melandri continues to solidify his position as a MatoGP fron"""",,,*, The Italian finished third In the race and he's now second in the championlhlp. tive winner. MOTOGP Steady rain kept plenty of standing water on the track as the field lined up, marshals frantically clearing the track of mud on the first section, where the pace car had spun on the sighting lap. They took off in a ball of spray, Gibernau first away but immediately running wide into the first turn. It was Hopkins who took the lead for the first time in his career, but by the end of a frantic first lap, it was his teammate Roberts heading Rossi from Elias, Hopkins, Gibernau, Biaggi and Melandri. Soon, the leading pair was pulling away rapidly from the pack, and Roberts in turn was inching away from Rossi. "He was riding very fast," Rossi said later, and the 2000 World Champion had a second over the Italian as they started lap five. Only a couple of corners later he slowed suddenly, and let Rossi by. His race was over. On the same lap, Bayliss lost the rear on one of the track's few faster corners, then Checa went flying under braking for the last left-hander, trying to make up time after finishing lap one fourth from last. "I was braking while leaning. I obviously found the limit," he said. The departure of Roberts left Rossi John Hopklnl (21) wal Hying in the MeloGP until running off the track. He eventually flnllhed seventh. 38 World Championship Road Race Series MAY 11, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS with a five-second advantage, Gibernau now heading the pursuit, with Biaggi behind him, then Elias, Hopkins and Jacque, pushing hard. "I realized from the first lap I could go faster than everybody," Jacque said later, after pulling through from I I th on that lap. Behind him was van den Goorbergh, also relishing the wet conditions, then a gap to Barros (soon to pull in to the pits for a ride-through penalty after jumping the start) and Melandri. Two laps later, Hopkins outbraked himself, running across the gravel to drop from fourth (Elias had also pitted for his ride-through) and rejoining in 11th. Gibernau was now six seconds adrift of Rossi and under attack from Biaggi, but Jacque was closing rapidly on the pair. As Biaggi lost ground again, the Frenchman pounced decisively. As the race approached half distance, Jacque was half a second behind Gibernau and looking for a way past. He was slower down the straight but hugely better under braking and through the turns. On lap IS, he found a way past and qUickly drew away. The question now was whether, with seven laps left, he could close a 6. I-second gap to the leader, and the outcome was by no means certain. He took three-tenths on the next lap, eight-tenths on the next, and so on. On lap 18, Rossi set fastest lap of the race in his bid to stay ahead, and Jacque immediately posted a faster lap. But as they started the final lap, he was still 2.5 seconds away, and 1.7 at the finish. "By then, I decided it was better to get it home than risk any more for the win," Jacque said later. "I rode two years in 500s and one in MotoGP and never had a result like this. I've waited a long time." A second thread had developed in their wake. At half distance, van den Goorbergh had been fifth, four seconds behind Biaggi, but with Melandri now picking up speed behind him. He was past the Dutchman on lap 16 and quickly closed on the slowing Biaggi, taking fourth on lap 17 and surging onward to close a four-second gap on teammate Gibernau and fly past him on the final lap. Biaggi was just a second adrift, van den Goorbergh close behind, then came Hopkins, who had moved strongly back through the midfield. Colin Edwards was next, running more strongly at the end but complaining of vision problems in the spray. He had gotten by Hayden, who complained of a vibration problem later in the race. Xaus was next, then Barros, who set fastest lap in the race on the penultimate lap. "I am sure I could have been on the podium if it wasn't for the penalty," he said later. Loris Capirossi was a disappointed 12th, blaming a bad rear tire choice, then came James Ellison - a steadfast ride on the WCM. A long way back came a deeply distressed Elias after his ride-through, with wildcard Tohru Ukawa 15th, earning the newly Michelin-shod Moriwaki's first points. Roberto Rolfo's d'Antin Ducati was another six seconds behind. Battaini crashed out on the WCM with six laps left. Rossi's title hopes were significantly boosted by an unexpected win. He now has 70 points, Melandri moves to second on 4S, with Barros on 43, Biaggi 36, eN Gibernau 33 and Edwards 25. SHANGHAI CIRCUIT SHANGHAI, CHINA RESULTS: APRIL 30·MAv 1, 200S (ROUND 3 OF 17) MOTOGP QUALIFYING: I. Sete Gibemau (1:59.710); 2. Marco Melandri (I :59.873); 3. Loris Capirossi (2:00,480); 4. John Hopkins (2:00.666); 5. Nicky Hayden (2:00.747); 6. Valentino Rossi (2:00.821); 7. Carlos Checa (2:00.902); 8. Toni Elias (2,01.081); 9. Kenny Robe", J' (2,01.085); 10. 5hlnya Nakano (2,01.098); II. Alex Barros (2,01.117); 12. Tmy BayHss (2,01.328); 13. Colin Edwa,ds (2~1.401); 14. Max BI>ggi (1,01.502); 15. ~_ Jacque (2m.On); 16. Ruben Xaus (2:02.869); 17. Roberto Rolfo (2:03.886): 18. Tohru Ukawa (2,04.223), 19. Jucgen van den Goo<'be.-gh (2,04.594); 20. Franco Battaini (2:05.468); 21. James Ellison (2:06,496). MOTOGP: I. Valentino Rossi (Yam); 2. Olivier Jacque (Kaw); 3. Marco Melandri (Han); 4. Sete Gibemau (Hon); 5. Max Biaggi (Hon); 6. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Han); 7. John Hopkins (Suz); 8. Colin Edwards (Yam); 9. Nicky Hayden (Han); 10. Ruben Xaus (Yam); II. Alex Barros (Hon); 12. Loris Capirossi (Due); 13. James Ellison (WCM); 14. Toni Elias (Yam); 15. Tohru Ukawa (Mor): 16. Roberto Rolfo (Due). Time: 50 min., 2,463 sec. Distance: 22 laps. 72.03 miles. Average speed: 86.36 mph Margin of victory: 1.7 sec.

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