Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/540890
IN THE WIND P42 pressure but I tried not to worry about that this weekend. I'm just happy to put our Lucas bike back in the winner's circle." As frustrating as the loss was for Smith, it signified a big performance improvement for his new Victory Gunner. The two-time World Champion scored decisive wins over Karen Stoffer—the winner of the recent Norwalk round—as well as World champ Eddie Krawiec and low qualifier Chip Ellis. "It is starting to come togeth- er," Smith said. "We knew this was going to be a learning year with a new bike but we're making progress. We've done a lot of testing lately and it has paid off. I think we're going to be a lot bet- ter the second half of the season than we were in the first." Arana Jr.'s win moves him to second in the points (436), behind Screamin' Eagles Harley- Davidson's Eddie Krawiec (452). Krawiec's teammate Andrew Hines sits third with 404 points. Kevin McKenna MELANDRI, APRILIA PART WAYS M arco Melandri's deeply disappointing grand prix return has come to an end, with an an- nouncement from Aprilia of an "agreement by mu- tual consent" for a parting of the ways ending many weeks of speculation on the eve of the German Grand Prix. While teammate Alvaro Bau- tista has been a regular at the bottom end of the points on the RS-GP development bike (little more than an upgraded CRT bike, based on the production model), Melandri has foundered at the bottom of the time sheets, and has not scored a single point. The 2002 250 champion and 2005 MotoGP runner up—one of only a few riders to give Rossi a hard time in the premier class—was a reluctant starter, having signed for a rumored six-figure salary for a second year in World Superbikes for the Italian factory. That ride melted away when the factory switched to a MotoGP return a year earlier than originally planned, leaving Melandri little op- tion but to undertake the role of development rider. However, in an echo of his dismal 2008 with Ducati, he was simply unable to build any relation- ship with the bike, lacking confidence and feel, and an embarrassment to the team and himself. Aprilia were ready to let him go, but he was unwilling to sacrifice his agreed fee. Now undis- closed terms have been agreed, and the charade is over. His place in Germany was taken by official test rider Michael Laverty, who spent two years on the down-beat PBM MotoGP bike before returning to British Superbikes this season. He joins brother Eugene on the grid, the second pair of brothers (alongside the Espargaros) in the premier class. However, he has not been confirmed as perma- nent second Aprilia rider. Michael Scott PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Marco Melandri's painful MotoGP season on the Aprilia has come to an end.