Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

losinS the front hal6/vay through rhe tight left, and shaking his head in bafflement later in his pit. ''l was doing it easy," he said. "When Valentino fRossi] c.xne pzrst I was happy to do my own pace and wait for the race to unfold, feeling comfonable." By noq Rossi and Hayden had a little gap over Hopkins and Roberts, while Pedrosa had closed up onto the American's back wheel. He only lasted a couple more laps before slipping off at turn one, his third crash there within 45 minutes (he had fallen again immediately after restarting from the first-corner crash). "l think today was not my day," he said, After all the problems, he had "lost a liftle bit of concentration. I was nervous.'' Upfront. Hayden kept Rossi honest. Then, suddenly, on lap l7 the gap stretched, and was more than a second on lap 20. Rossi had upped the pace, and Hayden decided to settle for second, far better than he'd expected. Robens and Hopkins played out their drama, changinE places for two laps on lap 19, but when Roberts trnleashed his Honda power on I''lichelin tires the Bridgestone-shod Suzuki had no answer. Shrnya Nakano was black-flagged after six laps. Soon afterward, Fortuna Honda's Toni Elias had followed Pedrosa past Vermuelen into sixth, only to crash on lap nine. This promoted Edwards, who had been picking up speed slowly after finish- ing lap one loth- He caught and passed Argentine 250cc rider S€basuan Porto has retired unexpectedly, makint the anncluncement or the eve of the catalun. fan GP A veteran of 160 GP starts, seven race wins and I I pole positions, the Repsol Honda rider wes sixth overall last year, but second the yeaa befoae. This year, however, has been mainly dismal, with a best of fifth on the grid and seventh overall at Qatar, but languishint low€r than 20th at several other races. "l've had a really difiicuh start to season and I don't feel like a winner any- more," he said. 1And when you feel like that, it's best to stop rigtrt a\,'.ay. ltried to understand and tet a tood relationship whh the bike, but I haven't manaSed to do it," he said. Who will take his place on the factoD/ Honda? The ream withdrew from Caralun- fa. and made no announcernent as to who would take over the coveted position. One anxious candidate was Welshman Chaz Davi€s, who lost his ride with the Campetella team at the last round after sponsorship problems. Catalunfe's fine Grand Prix circuit is espe- cially punishing on tires, whh a combina- tion of heat, high wear on the very long fast corners, and an abrasive resurface to the track the Far before last. Both Michelin and Bridtestone had mad€ special plans. Michelin had a different construction for its large fronr tire, whi(h mos( riders had !es(- ed at l4uSello the day arter the ltalian GP tlvo week a8o. Valentino Rossi remainr the exception, preferrinS last year's smaller tire - especially since Michelin had earlier in the week announced resulB of tests of the front tire that had chunked in China, put- ting him out of the race. That was the only time he has used the new larger tire. They could not find any reason for the failure. "This makes me more nervous, and I think it is b€tter if I dont choose the big one. Anyway, the old ti.e wor16 very well with the new chassis," said Rossi. For Bridtestone, this was one oftheir problem circuits last year, and they had brouEht a new selection ofmulticompound tires with new compound mixes. Because of the numbers and range of compounds brought. they had not intluded any of the new l6-inch rears used for the first time by Kawasaki at Hugello two weeks ago. Brhish l25cc wild card D.nny Webb had a tough introduction to Grand Prix racing, crashinS and breaking his left wrist on Sat- urday mominS. The diminutive rider, who look mu(h younter than hb 15 y€ars, is already taking part in the Spanish 125 series that has been a m4or traininS ground for new riders (includint Dani Pedrosa) in recent years. Webb's bike needed 18 kg of ballast to bring it to the minimum weight. Rossi's win at the ltalian GP put another record in his cabiflet of achievements - ahd t "We still had time and miles to go on the engine, but I iust parked the bike and said: it'll be comptitive for Catalunya"" he said. As ever, omes remained close. Chris Vermeulen was less than two-tenths down on Poberts to head the second row' the Australian class rookie back at a rack where he has some familiarity, and impressing again with hrs spe€d and consis- t \.. : '. Buliness as usual. A8ain. \Alentino Rolsi on pole position, and everyone else rucking the hind reat. Rossi's pole posi(ion broke a lont drouthr for rhe defending

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