Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cotdl MOTOGP Round 7 tun,e 17, X)4t6 Another view of the iurn-one wre(k. Kenny let me by, and he could see I was strugSling for grip. When he came by I tried again to stay with him and I got a decent lap time, but I was pushing the front so I had to back ofl" Camel Yamaha's Colin Edwards came through from a poor start to fifth, three seconds ahead of Chris Vermeulen. "We're still learning the new chassis," said Edwards. Konika Minolta Honda's lvlakoto Tamada narrowly saved seventh from a persistent Carlos Checa on the Dunlop- shod Tech 3 Yamaha: with his teammate James Ellison and the d'Antin Ducatis of Alex Hofmann and .lose Luis Cardoso were miles behind. Human8est Honda's Andrea Dovizioso backed up his sring of podiums so far rhis year with his first win in the 250cc Grand Wopld Championship Road Race Series Prix, defeating his longtime companions with a dazzling ourbraking move at the start ofthe last lap. His dive under brakes pushed Alex de Angelis and his Aprilia wide, which in turn put longtime leader Robeno Locatelli almost into the gravel. This gave .lorge Lorenzo his chance. He'd been trailing throughout, but in the last laps he rapidly closed up a four-second gap, and now dived through to take a fine second. De Angelis survived for third. "l'm very very happy to get my first win - especially at this track, which I love," said former l25cc World Champion Dovizioso, who extended his championship lead. Alvaro Bautista claimed a third l25cc GP win ofthe year to stretch his title lead. He defeared teammate Hector Faubel in a fierce last lap, with yet another team- mate - Sergio Gadea - third, the rostrum clean sweep backed by I'lattia Pasini's close founh, underlininE rhe pre-emi- nence of the l4aster l'4VA Aspar Aprilia team. The quartet had only dropped off Derbi's Lukas Pesek and defending cham- pion Thomas Luthi in the closing staSes of a desperate 22 laps. MOTOGP Stoner had led away on the first start. Hopkins was quick away this time, with Roberts close behind, but it was Stoner upfront once more as they dived into the first corner, all making it through safely this time. By the end of the first lap, Hayden had moved past Roberts into third, and past Hopkins into second at the flrst corner. Rossi was behind Roberts. Vermuelen los- ing Sround slightly behind him. They all stayed close, until Rossi start- ed to move on lap live, taking Roberts on one lap and Hopkins the next. Now he was third, with Roberts seeming to lose touch. He would come back, however. Hayden was Rossi's next victim, and as they started lap nine he also moved inside Stoner at the first corner, to lead for the first time. Half a lap later, at the end ofthe back straight, the Australian was down - lever on. The red Desmosediai immediatery Sround-looped over its front wtleel. s€nding the rider tumbling and rolling right in among the back ofthe pack, his bike likewise. Miracu- lousv. he did not hit anybo4/ else, nor did his bike, but he broke his collarbone, probably in the initial fall, and also suffered concussion. Capirossi was pushed right. where he collided with Fortuna Honda's Marco Melardri. and also fell, also rollin8 and tumbling into the gravel. Flelandri ve€red across and struck Pedrosa, sending him

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