Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

MOTOGP "There's not a lot to say, really," he said. "We are struggling in every facet of the bike and tires at the moment." Rossi extended his massive championship points lead to S8 points, 14S to 87 over Melandri. Biaggi sits third with 77. 2S0CC GP Pedrosa dug himself a hole by bogging at the start. Ending the lap, he was ninth and trailing a frisky collection of colleagues. De Puniet had gotten the holeshot, and his lead lasted until lap three, when he crashed, losing the front and sliding into the gravel. His momentum brought him to his feet, and he ran to his bike. The damage was minimal, so he soldiered on, going from 26th and last to sixth at the end. Hector Barbera took a turn at the front. Then the lead went to Alex de Angelis, with a pack of six streaming in his wake. By now, Pedrosa was at full steam and in the mix. Third on lap five, he swam amidst the sharks. The ferocity of the fight took Barbera to the front on the 10th lap, with Pedrosa leading a lap later, with an assist. Lorenzo rammed de Angelis from behind on the exit of the looping righthander Curva Repsol. Both were down and out, and Pedrosa went to the front. Lorenzo's view was that de Angelis had run wide and, on trying to pull back on to the inside of the Repsol corner, run into the path of Lorenzo, who could not avoid him. The two bikes hit, and Lorenzo fell, fracturing his collarbone. Lorenzo's participation in the Dutch GP is now in doubt. The crowd howled with delight when Pedrosa sped past the front-straight grandstand the first time. The margin was less than a second, but it soon grew. By the end, it would be S.637 seconds. "I've never won three in a row before, so to do so at my home race is fantastic," the diminutive Spaniard said. "Once I was leading, I managed to get a few crucial seconds ahead and held the gap until the end." Stoner took second from Barbera on the 13th lap, the Italian dropping to fourth, behind Dovizioso, and soon even farther. A series of hand gestures from Barbera to the battling Corsi suggested anger, but Barbera insisted he was trying to let Corsi know that they should wait one more lap to make their attack. How? Corsi appeared to drive into the path of Barbera after making a pass on the front straight, Barbera's tires smoking as his bike righted itself. Barbera's Fortuna Honda began to slow, and he eventually landed in 16th. Corsi took the blame and offered his apology. Meanwhile, the front four were spreading out. "I tried to catch Dani," said Stoner, 20 -Round 6 June 12. 2005 World Championship Road Race Series "but it was impossible, because after I got into second place, I was only able to match the lap time of Dani, so it was impossible to close the gap on 1m. h· " Dovizioso finished a brave third, not showing the effects of his horrific Saturday morning crash. Then came Hiroshi Aoyama, the Japanese rider recovering to finish fourth. He'd been among the leaders when he ran off the track after getting his finger stuck in the brake on lap three. Corsi survived his run-in with Barbera to take fifth. Then came the recovering de Puniet. Yuki Takahashi edged Sylvain Guintoli for eighth. The same goes for Mirko Giansanti, over Alex Baldolini, for ninth. Alex Debon was a very close I Itho 12SCC GP What happened to the 12Ss? That was the question almost from the start. The cut and thrust, bumping and grinding, was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a less-than-riveting runaway. Pasini took the lead from Luthi to start the second lap. It would take a few laps before he was gone: The lead didn't go over a second until lap eight. But it never stopped growing and ended at 9.034 seconds. Marco Simoncelli staged the comeback of the day. Contact with Toshihisa Kuzuhara dropped him to a first-lap 16th. The Aprilia rider patiently moved forward, landing in second on the 16th of 22 laps. "I couldn't expect to arrive second [at the] end of the race, but that's what happened," he said. Kallio was the rider to lose second, and he had no hope of keeping up. ''After seven laps, the tires go very fast down," he said. ''After that, it is a very difficult race for me." The battle for fourth place was the fight of the class. Gabor Talmacsi settled in at the midpoint. Manuel Poggiali and Tomoyoshi Koyama had designs on the spot and charged to the end, Koyama making the pass on the final lap. Thomas Luthi held off Julian Simon for eighth. eN MONTMELO CIRCUIT CATALUNYA, SPAIN RESULTS: JUNE 12, 2005 (ROUND 6 OF 17) MOTOGP QUALIFYING: I. Sete Gibernau (I :-42.337); 2. Marco Melandri (I :-42.390); 3. Valentino Rossi (1,42.123): 4. Max Blagg; (1:42.756): 5. Nicky Hayden (1:-42.&47); 6. Loris Capirossi (1:42.992); 7. Colin Edwards (1:43.109): B. Carlo, Checa (1:43.129): 9. Alex Barra' (1:43.159); 10. Makoto Tamada (1:-43.207); II. John Hopkins (1:43.291); 12. Shinya Nakano (1:·043.607); 13. Kenny Robern (1,43.787); 14. Alex Holmann (1:43.864): 15. Tray Bayliss (1:41.122); 16. Ruben Xaus (1:+4.193); 17. Robeno ""ffo (1:44.934): 18. Davkl Checa (1:45.310); 19. Shane Byrne (1:45.636); 20. James Ellison (1:-4.750); 21. Franco Battaini (I :47.599). MOTOGP: I. Valentino Rossi (Yam); 2. Sete Gibemau (Hon); 3. Marco Melandri (Hon); 4. Alex Barros (Hon); 5. JUNE 22, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Continued from page 19 Denning also addressed the question of who might ride for Suzuki in 2006. Kenny Roberts' contract expires at the end of this year; Hopkins has an option for 2006. "They both have expressed positive feelings about staying with Suzuki," Denning said, adding that he believes Hopkins wants to be "Suzuki's number-one when the bike gets back to a competitive level, rather than Honda's number-six or -seven guy." The name that's recently surfaced is Marlboro Ducati's Loris Capirossi. "Capirossi is one of a number of names," Denning said before making a tacit endorsement ofthe Italian veteran. "Per- sonally, 1am a big Capirossi fan. It's only question of finding out information on all the potentially available riders. In my opinion, a rider of the stature of Capirossi would benefit any team." Nicky Hayden (Hon); 6. Max Biaggi (Hon); 7. Colin Edwards (Yam); B. Troy BaylisS (Hon); 9. Shinya Nakano (Kaw); 10. Ruben Xaus (Yam); II. Carlos Checa (Due); 12. Loris Capirossi (Due); 13. David Che<:a (Yam); 14. Roberto Rolfo (Due); 15. Kenny Roberts (5uz); 16. Shane Byrne (Pro); 17. Alex Hofmann (Kaw); lB. James Ellison (BIOI); 19. Franco Banaini (BIOI). Time: 43 minutes. 16.4B7 se<:onds Distance: 25 laps, 73.434 miles Average speed: 101.58 mph Margin of victory: 1.094 seconds MOTOGP WORLO C'SHIP POINTS STANDINGS (After 6 of 17 rounds): I. Valentino Rossi (145/5 wins); 2. Marco Melandri (87); 3. Max Biaggi (77); 4. Sete Gibernau (73); 5. Alex Barros (65/1 win); 6. Colin Edwards (57); 7. Nicky Hayden (47); B. Loris Capirossi (43); 9. 5hinya Nakano (40); 10. Carlos Checa (33); II. Troy Bayliss (32); 12. Olivler Jacque (25); 13. Ruben Xaus (2-4); 14. n-IE) John Hopkins (16)/Makoto Tamada (16); 16. Toni Elias (16); 17. Jurgen van der Goorbergh (12); lB. n-IE) Alex Hofmann (9)/Kenny Robern (9): 20. Robeno ""Ifa (7). 250cc QUALIFYING: I. Dani Pedrosa (I :46.238); 2. Jorge Lorenzo (I :46.6170: 3. Sebastien Porto (I :46.706): 4. Randy de Puniet (1:46.825); 5. Hiroshi Aoyama (1:47.082); 6. Alex de Angelis (I :47.090); 7. Hector Barbera (I :47.454); B. Casey 5toner (I :-47.4B6); 9. Andrea Dovizioso (1:47.495); 10. Simone Corsi (1:47.650); II. Sylvain Guintoli (I :-4B.207); 12. Yuki Takahashi (I :4B.217); 13. Jakub Smrz (1:48.661); 14. 5teve Jenkner (1:4B.961); IS. Chaz Davies (1:49.012); 16. Mirko Giansanti (1:49.126); 17. Andrea Balerini (1:49.132); lB. Alex Debon (1:49.150); 19. Andrea Baldolini (I :49.132); 20. Erwan Nigon (I :49.IB5); 21. Hugo Marchand (I :-49.2(4); 22. Roberto Locatelli (1,49.277): 23. GregO<)' Leb~nc (1:49.974): 24. Nnaud Vincent (1:50.135); 25. Martin Cardenas (1:50,499}O; 26. Radomil Reus (1:50.618); 27. Frederik Watt (I :50.995); 28. Gabor Rizmayer (1:51.966); 29. Gabriele Ferro (I :53.459). 12S« QUALIFYING, I. Mlka Kallio (1:51,451): 2. Mattia Pasini (I :51.5 I5); 3. Marco 5imoncetli (I :51.562); 4. Lorenzo zanetti (1:51.9-49); 5. Toshihisa Kuzuhara (I :52.1)05); 6. Gabor Talmacsi (I :52.052); 7. Hector Faubel (1:52.056); B. Fabrizio l.ai (1:52.223); 9. Manuel Poggiali (1:52.2B5); 10. Thomas luthi (I :52,407); II. Pablo Nieto (1:52.579): 12. Tomoyoshi Koyama (1:52.586); 13. Julian Simon (1:52.598); 14. Lukas Pesek (1:52.605); 15. SergiO Gadea (1:52.805); 16. Alvaro Bautista (1:52.9IB); 17. Andrea Iannone (1:52.963); lB. Mike di Meglio (1:52.985); 19. Manuel Hemandez (1:52.990); 20. Alexis Masbou (1053.031): 21. Michael Ran'eder (1:53.073): 22. Daria Giuseppetti (1:53.222); 23. Mateo Tunez (1:53.272); 2-4. Aleix Espargaro (I :53.319); 25. Raffaele De Rosa. (1:53.319): 26. Raymond Schouten (1:53.465); 27. Joan Olive (1:53.511); 28. Nicolas Terol (1:53.617); 29. Jordi Canhano (1,53.629): 30. GK>ele Pelllno (I,S3.746): 31. Sandra Conese (I :53.813): 32. Angel Rodriguez (I :53.873): 33. 5tefan Bradl (1:53.880); 34. Federico 5andi (1:54.111); 35. Vincent Brailtard (1:5"",.256); 36. Michele Pirro (1:54.377); 37. Enrique Jerez (1:54.546); 38. Daniel Saez (1:54.779); 39. Hugo van den Berg (1:54.&19); 40. Imre Tolh (1:55.022): 41. Karel Abraham (I,S5.647) 250cc GP: I. Danl Pedrosa (Hon); 2. Casey Stoner (Apr); 3. Andrea Dovizioso (Hon); 4. Hiroshi Aoyama (Hon); 5. Simone Corsi (Apr); 6. Randy de Puniet (Apr); 7. Yuki Takahashi (Hon); B. Sylvain Guintoli (Apr); 9. Mirko Giansanti (Apr); 10. Alex Baldolinl (Apr); II. Alex Debon (Hon); 12. Roberto Locatelli (Apr); 13. Erwan Nigon (Hon); 14. Hugo Marchand (Apr); 15. Gregory Leblanc (Apr); 16. Hector Barbera (Hon); 17. Martin Cardenas (Apr); lB. Frederik Watz. (Yam); 19. Steve Jenkner (Apr); 20. Gabor Rizmayer (Yam); 21. Gabriele Ferro (Fan). Time: "'" I minutes. 29.28 seconds Distance: 23 laps, 67.559 mi~ Average speed: 97.69B mph Margin of victory: 5.637 seconds 250cc WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 6 of 16 rounds): I. Dani Pedrosa (1231-4 wins); 2. Casey 5toner (96/2); 3. Andrea Dovizioso (93); 4. Hiroshi Aoyama (5B); 5. Alex de Angelis (56); 6. Jorge Lorenzo (54); 7. Sebastien Porto (""'9); 8. Randy de Punlet (46); 9. Hector Depending on whom you believe, Olivier Jacque was either rewarded or mollified with two more MotoGP appearances on the factory Kawasaki. The Frenchman made a triumphant return to the premier level of racing with a shocking second as the replacement for the injured Alex Hofmann in the rain-sodden Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai. His success was slightly less the next time out, in his home grand prix at Le Mans, where he came I Itho But it was good enough for him to be considered for Mugello and Catalunya. Instead, Hofmann was back, though not at 100 percent, and Jacques was watching from the sidelines. His racing return comes later in the year as a wild card in the German GP at Sachsenring, then again in the season finaJe in Valencia. Kawasaki will field three riders at those races. In the meantime, he'll work as the test-and-development rider with a commitment of 12 days. "It is a very satisfying moment in my career to sign this new contract with Kawasaki; I have not had a full-time job in MotoGP for 18 months," said Jacque, who will be testing the 2006 prototype. "I'm very motivated for the race-and-test program Kawasaki has given me. I like both the German and Valencia circuits, and I think the ZX-RR has a very high potential." Barbera (+4): I O. Simone Corsi (3B); II. Yuki Takahashi (30); 12. Alex Deban (29): 13. Sylvain Gu;ntoll (27): 14. Mirko Giansanti (19); 15. n-IE) Roberto LocateJli/Chaz Davies/Alex Baldofini (15); lB. Andrea Ballerini (B): 19. Radoma Roo, (7). I25cc GP: I. Mattia Pasini (Apr); 2. Marco 5imoncelli (Apr); 3. Mlka Kallio (KTM): 4. Gabor Talmacsl (KTM); 5. Tomoyoshl Koyama (Hon); 6. Manuel Poggiali (Gil); 7. Thomas Luthi (Hon); 8. Julian 5imon (KTM); 9. Lorenzo Zanetti (Apr); 10. Fabrizio Lai (Hon); 11. Andrea Iannone (Apr); 12. Michael Ranseder (KTM); 13. Sergio Gadea (Apr); 1-4. Alvaro Bautista (Hon); 15. Aleix Espargaro (Hon); 16. Mike Di Meglio (Han); 17. Daria Giuseppetti (Apr); lB. Federico Sandi (Hon); 19. Mateo Tunez (Apr); 20. ArIgel Rodriguez (Hon); 21. Toshihisa Kuzuhara (Hon): 22. Raffaele De Rosa (Apr); 23. Sandra Cortese (Hon): H. Daniel 5aez (Apr); 25. Raymond Schouten (Hon); 26. Manuel Hernandez (Apr); 27. Jordi Carchano (Apr); 2B. Gioele Pellino (Mal); 29. Hugo van den Berg (Apr). Time: 41 minutes. 15.125 seconds Distance: 22 laps, 63.69 miles Average speed: 93.990 mph Margin of victory: 9.034 se<:onds 125cc WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 6 of 16 rounds): I. Mattia Paslni (&4/1 win); 2. Thomas Luthi (83/1): 3. Mika Kallio (82/1): 4. Gabor Talmacsl (75/1): 5 Marco Simoncelli (72); 6. Fabrizio Lai (63); 7. Manuel Poggiali (51); B. Joan Simon (""'5); 9. Tomoyoshi Koyama (43); 10. Hector Faubel (3D); II. Julian Olive (26); 12. Pablo Nieto (25); 13. (TIE) Sergio Gadea/Mike di Meglio (23); 15. A1eix Espargaro (16); 16. Alvaro Bautista (15); 17. Lorenzo Zanetti (14); lB. Manuel Hernandez (12); 19. (TIE) Toshihisa KuzuharalAlexis Masbou (9).

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