Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

250cc Grand Prix Race Results:

1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 27 laps, 42:55.728
2. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, -0.717 second
3. Toni Elias, Aprilia, -3.493 seconds
4. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, -3.934 seconds
5. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, -4.407 seconds
6. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, -19.852 seconds
7. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, -21.770 seconds
8. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, -24.580 seconds
9. Alex Debon, Aprilia, -25.987 seconds
10. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, -26.202 seconds
11. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, -31.621 seconds
12. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, -36.116 seconds
13. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, -45.339 seconds
14. Taro Sekiguchi, Yamaha, -45.538 seconds
15. David Checa, Aprilia, -57.476 seconds


250cc GP World Championship Point Standings:

1. Melandri, 145 points
2. Nieto, 132 points
3. Rolfo, 107 points
4. Battaini, 80 points
5. Elias, 76 points
6. De Puniet, 76 points


More, from Aprilia:


Marco Melandri makes clean sweep at Donington: fourth win in a row.

Four Aprilia 250s in top four places.

On a track he has never much loved, Marco Melandri today got the first four-of-a-kind in his career: four victories in a row. After Sebastian Porto left the action, the race was disputed by the two greatest contenders for the title this year: Melandri and Nietro fought a great race and a truly nail-biting last lap. Fundamental for victory, Macio brought his skills as a strategist to bear in the final trip round the circuit and managed to secure his win. This is the Ravenna rider’s fifth victory this season and confirms his position at the top of the championship, putting him 13 points ahead of Nieto. Four Aprilia RSW 250s filled the first four places, with Elias and Battaini coming in behind Melandri and Nieto. When today’s race came to an end, Marco took the top spot on the rostrum holding the Emergency banner, but the “race” for solidarity will be coming to an end tomorrow when Marco’s Mugello memorabilia will be bringing in auction funds for Dott. Gino Strada’s humanitarian association.

# 3 Marco Melandri – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 1st 42’55.728

“It was a really tough, but fantastic race – it’s no easy task keeping up such a fast pace for 27 laps here at Donington. I could see that Nieto was extremely fast in the first part of the circuit while I was able to pull away in the second. I started off not in too much of a rush as I knew had some margin to work on. In the last lap, Nieto slipped past in the part of the track where I wanted him to; I pulled out to let him by – this is because I wanted to concentrate on the final sprint by staying behind through the last two corners. I kept my wits about me all the way and kept my cool from beginning to end – this is what let me concentrate on the final rush. I was coming out of the corners tighter than Fonsi so even if I opened up the throttle just a little bit later than him, at least I could do so fully. It was a great race, and always correct – an exciting race to win. I just hope the Emergency “solidarity race”, which ends tomorrow, can achieve the same success. Now we’re all concentrating on next week’s race at the Sachsenring: that’s where I got my first win in the 250 class, which I really love. I’m just hoping I can keep up the good results I’ve been getting in this fantastic period in my career.”