Barbera Wins Motegi 125cc Grand Prix

Barbera Wins Motegi 125cc Grand Prix

© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Twin Ring Motegi
Motegi, Japan
Sunday, October 5
125cc Grand Prix
21 laps, 100.821 km

1. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 41:54.483

2. Casey STONER, Aprilia, -0.164 seconds

3. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, -0.304

4. Stefano PERUGINI, Aprilia, -2.731

5. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, -2.970

6. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, -3.215

7. Mika KALLIO, KTM, – 3.264

8. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, -9.200

9. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, -13.016

10. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, -13.195



125cc World Championship Points
1. PEDROSA, 198

2. PERUGINI, 159

3. DE ANGELIS, 147

4. DOVIZIOSO, 146

5. NIETO, 132

6. BARBERA, 130

7. JENKNER, 115

8. CECCHINELLO, 105

9. STONER, 100

10. GIANSANTI, 73



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Hector Barbera (Aprilia) started from the front row for only the third time in his career and won his second Grand Prix in a tight contest. Casey Stoner (Aprilia) was second and Andrea Dovisioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) was third. World Championship points leader Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS125R) was sixth.

Pedrosa led from the start having started from pole for the second successive race and the third time this season and pulled out an impressive lead in the opening laps. He set one of the fastest laps of the race on lap three at 1m 58.979 seconds and looked to have the 21-lap contest well under control.

But on lap 15 his steering damper worked loose and the title leader lost two and a half seconds form his 4.112 second lead as he struggled to address the problem which hampered his braking into turns and acceleration out of them for the rest of the race.

With Pedrosa dropping back the battle raged for the lead in the final laps between Barbera, Stoner and Dovisioso. But Barbera made no mistakes and left no gaps for his close pursuers to exploit.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Pedrosa. “Six laps from the end with more than four seconds advantage the steering damper came loose. The bike was virtually unrideable and that’s a shame because I could have made a major step towards the title. We have had problems for three races now and hopefully the bad run will end in Malaysia.”

The World Championship points standings now show Pedrosa with 198, Perugini on 159, Alex de Angelis with 147 and Dovisioso with 146. The next race is at Sepang in Malaysia next weekend.




HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

125cc:

Andrea Dovizioso, Scot Honda, 3rd: “I am a little disappointed with my race, it was possible for me to win the race today the bike was really good. In the race I got bad cramp in my lower leg and had some trouble changing down through the gearbox.”

Dani Pedrosa, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Jnr Team, 6th: “This has been a difficult race for us. We had a problem in the warm up and had to use the spare bike but we didn’t know how it would be in the race. I got a really good start and opened a gap on the others but late in the race I had problems with the steering damper and lost a lot of time. It was a pity because today I could have extended my lead in the championship. I know this is part of racing and these things can happen. I don’t blame anybody.”

Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda, 10th: “The first lap of the race was not so good for me. I got a perfect start but at the first corner I was on the inside line and a lot of riders rode around the outside of me. That left me on the wrong side of the track at the second corner, I lost a lot of places but after about three laps I found my rhythm and started to move forward. I saw the big group about 500 meters ahead of me so it was go, go, go, and I slowly caught them. Only Giansanti was a problem. On the last lap he outbraked me but he left enough room for me to get passed again. ”

Masao Azuma, Ajo Motorsports Honda, 13th: “The result is not satisfactory. I was not so good in qualifying and started from the sixth row. I gave my maximum on the second lap and got up to 10th place. But I was riding too hard at many braking points and was running straight on. After that I was quiet, not too aggressive. The bike was better than qualifying but we still have some work to do before next week.”

Simone Corsi, Scot Honda, 15th: “Ï am not satisfied with my race, I was had really bad chattering on the front wheel early. This is strange because in the warm up there was no problem. The chatter also caused me a few problems with rear wheel slides. Pity because the engine was really good today.”









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