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among the group. All eight made it to the finish. Yincent had made two attempts to break away. the second almost successful, with Giansanti two second behind, Alzamora and Locatelli on his tail. Alzamora might have attacked the leader, but when he moved into second with three laps left he promptly slid wide and went back to third, with Giansanti making sure he was too wide to pass. Ueda was a little way back, and then Jenkner led Scalvini and Gol. Masau Azuma was ninth on the second Playlife Honda, working his way through from 22nd after a lap-two indiscretion dropped him to the back. .. Welkom Circuit Welkom, South Africa Results: March 19, 2000 500cc QUALIFYING: I. Sete Gibernau (I :36.273): 2. Loris C.pirossi (1 :36.397): 3. Kenny Roberts Jr. (1:36.679): 4. Carlos Choc. (I :36.71 I): 5. Valentino Rossi (J :36.832); 6. Tadayuki Okada (1:36.841): 7. Alex Criville (1:36.970): 8. Jeremy McWilli.ms (1:37.044): 9. G.rry McCoy (1:37.129): 10. Max Biaggi (1 :37.208); I). Jurgen van den Goorbergh (1 :37.323); 12. Nobuatsu Aoki (1:37.330): 13. Alex Borro, (137.340); 14. Tetsuy. H.r.d. (1:37.382): 15. Norick Abe (1:37.584): 16. Regis Laconi (1:37.711): 17. Sebastien Gimbert (I :39.067): 18. Dovid de Ge. (I :39.222): 19. Sh.ne Narval (1 :40.0 13): 20. Jose Luis Cardoso (1:40.324): 21. Voshiteru Konishi (1:40.349). 500cc GRAND PRIX: I. G.rry McCoy (V.m): 2. Carlos (heell (Yam); 3. Loris Capirossi (Hon): 4. Alex Barros (Hon); 5. Alex enville (Hon): 6. Kenny Roberts Jr. ($uz); 7. Narick Abe (Yam): 8. Nobulltsu A.oki (5uz); 9. Regis Laconi (Yam); 10. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Hon): II. Jose Luis Cardoso (Hon); 12. Sebastien Gimbert (Hen): 13. Voshiteru Konishi (Hon): 14. Shane Norval (Hon); 15. David De Gea (Mod). Time: 45 min.. 38.775 sec. Distance: 28 laps. 63.522 miles Average speed: 96.797 mph Margin of victory: 0.366 sec. 500cc WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 16 rounds): 1. Garry McCoy (25/1 win): 2. Carlos Checa (20): 3. Loris Capirossi (16); 4. Alex B.rros (13): 5. Alex Criville (II): 6. Kenny Roberts Jr. (10): 7. Norick Abe (9): 8. Nobuotsu Aoki (8); 9. Regis Laconi (7); 10. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (6); 11. Jose Luis C~rdoso (5); 12. Sebastien Gimbert (4); 13. Yoshiteru Konishi (3); 14. Shane Norvat (2); 15. David De Gea (I). 250cc QUALIFYING: 1. Shinya Nakano (1:37.705): 2. Tohru Uk.w. (1:37.778): 3. D.ijiro K.toh (1:37.882): 4. Anthony West (1:38.895): 5. Olivier Jacque (1 :38.937); 6. Franco Battaini (1:38.943): 7. R.lfW.ldm.nn (1:39.091): 8. M.rco Mel.ndri (I :39.324): 9. Luc. Boscoscuro (I :39.477): 10. Alex Debon (1 :39.772); I I. Sebastien Porto (1:39.869): 12. Sh.hrol Vuzy (1:39.957): 13. KI.us Nohles (1:40.044): 14. Jomie Robinson (1:40.072): 15. Alex Hofmann (1:40.193); 16. Adrian Coates (1:40.533): 17. Joson Vincent (1:40.456): 18. N.oki Matsuda (1:40.621); 19. J.mo J.nssen (1:40.622): 20. Johan Stigfelt (1 :40.760); 21. David Garcia (I :40.790): 22. Iv.n Clementi (I :40.880); 23. Fonsi Nieto (I :41.266): 24. D.vid Choc. (I :41.546): 25. Vincent Philippe (1 :41.655); 26. Mike 8eldinger (I :41.763): 27. Lucas Oliver (I :41.853): 28. Roberto Rolfo (I :42.073). 250<:c GRAND PRIX: I. Shlnyo N.k.no (V.m); 2. Daijiro Katoh (Hon); 3. Tohru Uk~wa (Hon); 4. Olivier Jacque(Y~m); 5. Anthony West (Hon); 6. Fr~nco Bllttaini (Apr); 7. Ralf Wllidmann (Apr); 8. Sebastian Porto (Yam); 9. Jason Vincent (Apr); 10. Naoki Matsudo(Yam); 11. Jamie Robinson (Apr); 12. Alex Deban (Apr); 13. Mllrco Melllndri (Apr); 14. Kl.us Nohles (Apr): 15. Roberto Rolf 0 (Han): 16. David Checa (Hon); 17. Jamo Jllnssen (Hon): 18. Mike Bllldinger (Yam). lime: 42 min., 34.085 sec. Distance: 26 laps. 68.81 mi~s Average speed: 96.383 mph Margin of victory: 0.875 sec. 250cc WORLD C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 1 of 16 rounds): 1. Shinya Nllkano (25/1 win): 2. D.ijiro K.tch (20): 3. Tohru Uk.w. (16): 4. Olivier Jacque (13); 5. Anthony West (11); 6. Franco Bllttaini (10): 7. Rllif Wllidmann (9); 8. Sebllstian Porto (8); 9. Jason Vincent (7); 10. NllOki MDtsudo (6): 11. Jomie Robinson (5); 12. Alex Debon (4); 13. M.rco Mel.ndri (3): 14. KI.us Nohles (2): 15. Roberto Rolfo (I) 125cc QUALIFYING: I. Roberto Locatelli (I :43.464): 2. Vouich Ui (1 :43.547): 3. G1.nlu1gi Scalvlni (1 :43.579); 4. Mirko Giansanti (1 :43.610); 5. Steve Jenkner (I :43.692); 6. Arnaud Vincent (1:43.729): 7. Noboru Uedo (1:43.993): 8. Iv.n Goi (1:44.010): 9. Gino Borsoi (1:44.236): 10. Simone Sllnna (1 :44.399): 11. Emilio Alzllmorll (1 :44.483); 12. Masao Azuma (1 :44.041); 13. Randy de Puniet (1:44.592): 14. Angel Nieto Jr. (1:44.662): 15. Alex de Angells (I :44.993): 16. P.blo Nieto (1 :45.165): 17. Max Sabbatllni (1 :45.372); 18. Lucio Cecchinello (I :45.512): 19. M.nuel Poggl.1i (1 :45.974): 20. Marco Petrini (1 :46.283); 21. Reinhard Stolz (1:46306): 22. Willl.m de Angelis (1:47.021): 23. Leon Hllslam (1:47.357); 24. Antonio ElillS (1:47.692): 25. Adrl.n Ar.ujo (1:47.953): 26. Jllroslllv Hules (1:48.521). 125cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Am.ud Vincent (Apr): The South African GP marked the 500cc debut of 250cc World Champion Valentino Rossi (46). Rossi, shown here leading 500cc World Champion Alex Criville (1) and Alex BarTOS (10) was impressive despite the fact that he ended up crashing. Superlatives were unsheathed yet again in one of the most exciting final practice sessions since - well, since last year. During the last hour of practice the name at the top of the list changed 13 times, and eight different riders enjoyed the lead. And at the end there were three different makes of machine on the front row of the grid, with the first 10 all qualifying within one second. Phew! This fu!fiIled the pre-season promise of close racing, as well as proving yet again that slow and slippery circuits tend to keep riders packed up close. Times were slower than last year, when the very green surface had rapidly built up rubber. A lot of rain in the intervening months, and yet more on Thursday and Friday nights, changed the situation, and the track was once again more slippery, though less unpredictable (said the riders) than last year. Names up front during the final session included that brilliant class rookie Yalentino Rossi, and the veteran Alex Barros, as well as Carlos Checa and Tadayuki Okada - though not the troubled past race winner Max Biaggi. The main contenders, however, were Sete Gibemau and Kenny Roberts Jr., who ended up split by class returnee Loris Capirossi. Gibemau's first pole was at one of the few tracks where he has ridden a Y-four before. He'd been a leading player until the last session. "We had some problems in the morning, so in·the afternoon I had to focus on getting the bike set for the race. Then at the end I was able to throw on some new tires and go out for pole,' said the happy Spaniard. He did it right at the last possible minute. He displaced Capirossi, who had ousted Roberts with a minute or so to go. He spoke happily about how much easier the 500s were to ride since he left the class at the end of 1996. "The engines are better, and especially the tires,' Capirossi said. Roberts was thus pushed down to third, but in severely practical mode at a track that suits the fast-accelerating Hondas better than his Suzuki. "Our style is better for places where you can keep a high comer speed - here it's all tight turns, understeer and acceleration: Roberts said. "I gave it my best shot, and I'm happy to be on the front row. Now we have to make sure we leave here with the maximum possible points." Fourth quickest was Carlos Eheca, glummest of tJ:1e quartet "I'm not happy, but I'm satisfied: he said. "This is not a track where the Yamaha shows its best potential - we have a lot of rear grip, so when you open the throttle on the slow comers the bike runs wide.' All four had moved up within the last four minutes of practice - prior to that Rossi had been fastest, and he was thus robbed of a dream 500cc-class debut. He was cheerful as ever. "Fifth is a good position for my first GP, beciluse it is right behind the pole starter: Rossi said. "Mick [Doohan] gave me some suggestions of how to start an NSR, so I will try to follow his advice. I tried some starts, but the race may be a different story - it will be my first time with the bike heavy with gasoline. Also tomorrow will be the first time I will be riding a 500 after 10 laps, with sliding tires - but I am learning all the time: He had Tadayuki Okada alongside, the Japanese rider saying he was fully recovered from his concussion, and had enjoyed being able to concentrate on physical fitness pre-season, as he took a break from the HRC tests. "I am physically stronger than usual, with no troubles from my arms pumping up as usual at the start of the season," he said. Only then came Alex Criville, though the closeness of the times meant he was still a factor, and the second row is not a bad place for a good rider to start. He'd been less than hugely impressive through practice, but always there, and as Roberts said: "Alex knows you don't win titles by busting your balls in practice for the first race." The last man on the second row was Jeremy McWilliams, making an impressive Aprilla debut after falling on the first day. "I'm stilileaming the bike," he said gleefully, haVing topped his teammate Tetsuya Harada, in spite of riding last year's bike. Garry McCoy moved up to lead the third row from Biaggi, who was struggling with pain from the groin injury sustained in testing. "It really hurts over the bumps. The best I can hope for is to take some points,' he said. cue' e n eVIls MARCH 29, 2000 11