From a press release issued by Dorna Sports:

Rossi wins fitting final race at Valencia

Valentino Rossi ended the 2004 MotoGP World Championship in fitting style at Valencia today, taking his ninth victory of a season in which he has cemented his place as one of the greatest motorcycle racers in history. Rossi made a bad start but came through an entertaining battle for positions in the opening stages of the race, whilst pole setter Makoto Tamada streaked into a clear lead.

An incident between Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi on lap three opened the way for Rossi to chase Tamada and the Italian took the lead on the sixth lap before being relegated back to second by his Japanese rival two circulations later. Rossi hit back seven laps later and was this time able to make his escape, eventually opening up a clear advantage at the front. Max Biaggi and Troy Bayliss began to close in over the final few laps after also passing Tamada but ran out of time in the hunt for Rossi.

“To win nine races has been unbelievable for everybody and we also won the team award, which was not so bad either!” said Rossi after the race. “Tamada was looking very strong, and I had a tough fight with him until he slowed and dropped back. My rhythm improved and I was able to push 100% to the end. Then there was a fight with Biaggi behind, and he was very strong. It is unbelievable to win here, and wonderful in front of this crowd. This year really has been unforgettable for me, my mechanics and Yamaha.”

Second place for Biaggi provided a satisfactory end to his second season with Honda whilst third place for Bayliss represented his first podium of the year in his final race for Ducati. The Australian’s replacement in the Italian factory team for 2005 was announced this afternoon as Carlos Checa, who ended his Yamaha career today with fourteenth place after recovering from a crash.

Sete Gibernau’s season ended with fourth place in the race and the runner-up spot in the championship for the second successive season, whilst Tamada eventually dropped back to fifth. Nicky Hayden crashed out of the battle for a podium finish after running with the front group throughout the race, just as he had done last season, but his team-mate Alex Barros provided some consolation with sixth place.

Seventh place for Shinya Nakano secured a top ten finish in the championship on the Kawasaki, with the Japanese rider moving ahead of Ruben Xaus after a crash for the Spaniard in his home round today. However, eleventh place in the final standings for Ruben Xaus is sufficient for the Rookie of the Year title, which he will receive this evening alongside the award winners in all three categories at a special ceremony in the centre of Valencia.

Daniel Pedrosa celebrated his 250cc World Championship title in style with home victory in front of over 122,000 fans, a record crowd at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Pedrosa pressured early leader Sebastián Porto until the eleventh lap, taking the lead with a clean move and stretching out a clear advantage. Porto pushed hard to stay with the World Champion but lost control of his Aprilia on the nineteenth lap, leaving Toni Elías to win a furious battle with Hiroshi Aoyama for second. Aoyama was later disqualified from third when his bike weighed in at 500g underneath the minimum weight limit, meaning Randy de Puniet was promoted to the podium. Fourth place for Franco Battaini sealed the Best Privateer award for the Italian whilst British teenager Chaz Davies, the youngest rider in the class, scored his best ever finish in fifth.

Hector Barberá had started the party early for the Spanish fans with home victory in the opening race of the day. Barberá dominated proceedings in the 125cc class, taking the lead from Andrea Dovizioso on lap four before a rare mistake from the World Champion saw him run into the gravel and return to the track in twelfth place. Dovizioso mounted a strong comeback to take second place but was powerless to catch Barberá, whilst Alvaro Bautista held off the challenge of his fellow Spaniards Pablo Nieto and Sergio Gadea to clinch the final podium spot in third.



More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda:

GP of the Valencian Community – Round 16 – MotoGP
Valencia – Sunday October 31st 2004

Yellow RC211V bikes play major part in Valencia race

Max second, Makoto fifth

It was a positive last round of the MotoGP Championship 2004 for the bright yellow Camel Honda team, who starred in the race today. Max Biaggi hung on determinedly to the second step of the podium whilst Makoto Tamada, who led the race for 12 laps, finished in fifth position as the chequered flag waved. For the Camel Honda team it was an important season in all: third placed in the team championship, Max Biaggi 3rd in the overall standings, Makoto Tamada 6th. The riders took three wins, six second places and three thirds, keeping the good name of the yellow Camel Honda RC211V motorcycles.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“Our bikes and our team were main protagonists in this special day which closed the 2004 season. In Valencia today, it was a real festival of sport and people. We would have liked to have won, and we were in with a shout until the very last lap. It ends an important season for us, and I want to thank both Honda and Camel for their constant support. Thanks also to the team and to all the partners who have shared this recently ended season with us. Together we have won three races, we got on the podium 12 times and we are third in the team championship. Thank you.”

Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin tyres) – 2nd – 47’16.570
“Second place isn’t the perfect result to end the season but it’s satisfying nonetheless. The race was exciting, tough, and hard-fought especially on the first few laps. Straight away I found myself battling with Tamada, Hayden, Bayliss and Gibernau until a bit of a risky manoeuvre from the latter meant I nearly crashed. Luckily I saw him coming and I was able to brake and run a little wider. The fight-back was difficult but I enjoyed it too. Thanks to Honda and my team. They always have worked as hard as they could to get me into the best shape possible.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Camel Honda – (Makoto Tamada’s Technical Director)
“A great first third of the race for Makoto, but then a sharp dip in grip, which continued until the end of the race and which stopped him from fighting for the podium. Even though we might have expected the decrease in grip levels around the halfway point, we didn’t expect it to be so consistent. Makoto has shown himself to be a very strong and determined rider and if we look back, we believe that we have succeeded in getting a good set-up for his style of riding and that bodes well for the future.”

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone tyres) – 5th – 47’23.913
“I got a good start and it was a good first part of the race with a couple of duels with Rossi which I enjoyed immensely. Then I lost grip on the rear end of the bike and the decrease in grip became very clear. I knew that today wasn’t going to be easy and that the grip would worsen at some point, and that’s why I tried to open up a gap at the beginning, when I was at the front. However then I wasn’t able to be aggressive and I had to give up a few positions before finishing in fifth.”



More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

2004-10-31
SETE PAYS PRICE FOR MISTAKEN REAR TYRE CHOICE

Colin Edwards suffers from traction problems

The Valencian Grand Prix did not do justice to the Telefónica MoviStar Honda team, with Sete Gibernau hoping to end the season with another victory but having to settle for fourth whilst Colin Edwards signed off from the team with eighth. A mistake with the rear tyre choice, taking a harder compound in anticipation of rising temperatures, left Sete out of the fight for podium positions. A third of the way into the race, the Spaniard began to recover ground but it was too late. Sete was disappointed not to offer a better result to the Spanish fans but reflected positively on the work done in a season which has seen him take a prestigious runner-up spot for the second successive year. Colin Edwards said goodbye to the team with eighth place and fifth overall in the championship.

SETE GIBERNAU (4th, + 6″128):
“We have two things to relfect on today – one being the season and also the race. We had a really good first half of the seas! on and from Brno onwards a few problems have prevented us from fighting for the championship. We have to be self-critical about the things we could have controlled and the things we couldn’t in order to be in a stronger position next season. In this race we made a completely wrong rear tyre choice and that is our responsibility. We were the only ones to pick a hard tyre, thinking that the temperature would rise, and it didn’t. That was why I lost the race oin the first few laps. It’s a real shame because I would have liked to have put on a better show for the crowd here.”

COLIN EDWARDS (8th, + 27″441):
“We made a good start, but we didn’t choose the right tyre and there was no traction. The bike was sliding from the start and it was impossible to make up positions. It’s a real pity because I wanted to dedicate a good result to the team in my last race.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (team manager):
“It was a strange race and! we haven’t got the results we were hoping for. But overall it’s been a positive season for us – I want to congratulate my two riders, starting with Sete, who had some brilliant races and finished as the runner-up, and also Colin who did a good job for us. I wish him all the best for the future. Our objective is to continue to improve day by day.”

GP DE LA COMUNITAT VALENCIANA
1. Valentino Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) 47’16″145
2. Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) + 0″425
3. Troy Bayliss (Aus/Ducati) + 3″133
4. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) + 6″128
5. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) + 7″768
…
8. Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) + 27″441

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Valentino Rossi 304 p.
2. Sete Gibernau 257 p.
3. Max Biaggi 217 p.
4. Alex Barros 165 p.
5. Colin Edwards 157 p.



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Grand Prix of the Community of Valencia, Valencia, October 15, 16, 17, 2004

Race Day October 31

MAX BACK IN THE GROOVE WITH A SECOND PLACE

The final race of this intriguing 16-race season ended with a win for Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) with Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) in second place and Troy Bayliss (Ducati) third. A crowd of 122,000 watched from the hillsides of this natural amphitheatre in bright sunshine.

Max and pole-sitter Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V), riding on Bridgestone tyres, were the first into turn one closely followed by Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V). Max led, but he was swiftly overtaken by Tamada who then made the early running.

By lap three an early pattern was set among the front-runners as Sete barged into Max on lap three in a bid to get on terms at the sharp end of the race. But Tamada couldn’t sustain his lead as Rossi moved up the order to lie second to Makoto on lap five.

On the next lap Rossi took the lead only to lose it again to Tamada on lap seven. The next event was the loss of Ruben Xaus (Ducati) and Marco Melandri (Yamaha) on lap ten. Xaus overcooked a corner exit while Melandri lost the front-end trying to avoid getting involved in a Capirossi ‘moment’.

Rossi grabbed the lead back from Tamada at the esses and was never again headed – but the action would continue behind him. Troy Bayliss in fifth was making ground on the leaders and the order now was Rossi, Biaggi, Tamada, and Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V).

Hayden was lucky to stay on board and even more fortunate not to collect Max as he fought to keep his RC211V on track under braking for turn one on lap 21. On the next lap he slid off to leave Rossi, Max and Bayliss in the top slots as Tamada dropped back.

That’s how it finished with Gibernau getting past Tamada on the penultimate lap to take fourth. Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) was sixth and Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) was eighth.

“A second place is not really how I wanted to end this Championship,” said Max. “The race was tough especially in the opening laps. I was immediately involved in the Tamada, Hayden, Sete battle until Sete’s strange manoeuvre that nearly knocked me off. Luckily I saw him coming and had a chance to go wide and avoid him. But getting back on terms after that was tough.”

Sete said. “I made a mistake with tyre choice. We chose a hard tyre, which was not the way to go. I lost time in the opening laps and then from halfway through the race to the end grip improved but by then I was too far away. It’s a shame because I wanted to end the year with a win.”

Makoto Tamada said, ” My battle with Rossi was good. I got a good start and the first part of the race was good for me too. But I lost rear grip and I knew this race would not be easy. I went hard at the beginning because I thought this would happen.”

“This was like so many of my races this season,” said Barros. “I found myself half way down the field and then had to spend all the race catching and passing people until the tyres were gone. Then I just had to take it steady to get to the finish.”

Edwards blamed tyre choice for his woes. “I chose the wrong tyre and couldn’t get near the front the way the bike was spinning-up and sliding everywhere. I’m disappointed I couldn’t get a good result here to say goodbye to the team with.”

Hayden said, “It was the simplest of crashes. I just pushed the front, held it for a long time and almost saved it on my knee. But it’s not 100% at the moment and I just didn’t have the strength to save it. I wasn’t just going to cruise around for fifth – that’s no way to end the year.”

Honda won the MotoGP Manufacturers’ World Title this year with 355 points to Yamaha’s 328.

Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250R won the final 250cc race of the season from his intense rival Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW). Rookie sensation Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) finished third before being disqualified – his motorcycle was 500g under the minimum weight limit.

Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) led the pack into turn one from the off and was immediately harried by the new World Champion Dani. It was soon clear that these two were in a class of their own. By lap five they had a 5.5 second lead over third-placed Elias.

Aoyama wasn’t to let Elias hand onto third for long. The Japanese pounced on the local boy on lap ten but never looked entirely capable of holding onto the advantage. Sure enough, Elias, who had stalked him, passed him, been passed again by him, finally nailed the Japanese charger in the closing laps.

Porto crashed on lap 19 after losing ground steadily to the flying Pedrosa and Dani’s win clinched the Manufacturers’ World Championship for Honda with 354 points to Aprilia’s 344.

“Porto set a fast rhythm at the start,” said Dani. “But I opened up a gap over him as soon as I could and then I was able to build a comfortable advantage, until he crashed. I had a few problems with the bike at the end and I was worried I wouldn’t make it to the end. This is a great end to a marvellous year.”

His team-mate Aoyama was crestfallen after his disqualification. “I’m gutted,” he said. “The fight with Elias was intense and I lost count of the number of times we passed each other. I had very little rear grip at the end of the race and I really had to try to hang onto third place. Big thanks to my team who have been fantastic.”

Tony Elias said, “That was a tough race and Aoyama rode really hard. In the end I was able to get past him and set a rhythm he couldn’t match. To end the season with a podium is always good even though I would have preferred a win.”

Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) finished a creditable seventh after starting from the fifth row of the grid. “After all the problems we had this weekend in qualifying it’s not bad. The team have worked wonders all season.”

The 125cc race was won convincingly by Hector Barbera (Aprilia) after Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) who looked to be in command of this 24-lap encounter visited a gravel trap on lap seven. The finishing order was Barbera, Dovizioso, Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia).

But this was after the race was tightly fought by a group of local hopefuls gunning for an end of season send-off in front of a sell-out crowd. Gino Borsoi (Aprilia) got the holeshot but he was soon overhauled by Dovi with Barbera in close attendance.

Jorge Lorenzo (Derbi) was in the mix by lap five but he baled out on lap 13 to leave Barbera out front, late season revelation Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) in second, and his team-mate Pablo Nieto in third.

As the race drew to a conclusion Barbera held a 1.9 second advantage over Nieto who had now elevated himself to second. It didn’t last though. Dovi was on the move after his off-track excursion and he scythed past Nieto and Bautista in the closing laps to net second. Simone Corsi (Team Scot Honda RS125R) finished eighth.

“I made a mistake with tyre choice,” said Dovi. “That’s why I ran off track. It was tough to get back on terms when the race pace was as high as it was. I just couldn’t get back the ground I lost.”

Despite Dovi’s best efforts the Constructor’s World Championship went to Aprilia this year. The Italian factory garnered 329 points to Honda’s 301.


Quotes

MotoGP

Max Biaggi, Camel Honda, 2nd:”Second place isn’t the perfect result to end the season but it’s satisfying nonetheless. The race was exciting, tough, and hard-fought especially on the first few laps. Straight away I found myself battling with Tamada, Hayden, Bayliss and Gibernau until a bit of a risky manoeuvre from the latter meant I nearly crashed. Luckily I saw him coming and I was able to brake and run a little wider. The fight-back was difficult but I enjoyed it too. Thanks to Honda and my team. They always have worked as hard as they could to get me into the best shape possible.”

Sito Pons, Camel Honda, Team Principal: “Our bikes and our team were main protagonists in this special day which closed the 2004 season. In Valencia today, it was a real festival of sport and people. We would have liked to have won, and we were in with a shout until the very last lap. It ends an important season for us, and I want to thank both Honda and Camel for their constant support. Thanks also to the team and to all the partners who have shared this recently ended season with us. Together we have won three races, we got on the podium 12 times and we are third in the team championship. Thank you.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica Movistar Honda Mot, 4th: “We have two things to relfect on today – one being the season and also the race. We had a really good first half of the season and from Brno onwards a few problems have prevented us from fighting for the championship. We have to be self-critical about the things we could have controlled and the things we couldn’t in order to be in a stronger position next season. In this race we made a completely wrong rear tyre choice and that is our responsibility. We were the only ones to pick a hard tyre, thinking that the temperature would rise, and it didn’t. That was why I lost the race oin the first few laps. It’s a real shame because I would have liked to have put on a better show for the crowd here.”

Makoto Tamada, Camel Honda, 5th: “I got a good start and it was a good first part of the race with a couple of duels with Rossi which I enjoyed immensely. Then I lost grip on the rear end of the bike and the decrease in grip became very clear. I knew that today wasn’t going to be easy and that the grip would worsen at some point, and that’s why I tried to open up a gap at the beginning, when I was at the front. However then I wasn’t able to be aggressive and I had to give up a few positions before finishing in fifth.”

Giulio Bernardelle, Makoto Tamada’s Technical Director: “A great first third of the race for Makoto, but then a sharp dip in grip, which continued until the end of the race and which stopped him from fighting for the podium. Even though we might have expected the decrease in grip levels around the halfway point, we didn’t expect it to be so consistent. Makoto has shown himself to be a very strong and determined rider and if we look back, we believe that we have succeeded in getting a good set-up for his style of riding and that bodes well for the future.”

Alex Barros, Repsol Honda Team , 6th: “That was like so many races this season – sadly. Finding myself half way down the pack at the end of the first lap and then spending all the race just catching and passing as many as I can until the tyres are gone and I just have to ride steady to get home! I’m just disappointed we couldn’t make a better result at the last race of the season and give all my team a good experience. Overall the first part of the season was bad. I was recovering from the winter shoulder surgery and in the first few races I crash a lot which was disappointing. In the second half of the year we were much more competitive but the whole performance was not good enough. I believe I can do better and will now look for the opportunity to prove myself.”

Colin Edwards, Telefonica Movistar Honda Mot, 8th: “We made a good start, but we didn’t choose the right tyre and there was no traction. The bike was sliding from the start and it was impossible to make up positions. It’s a real pity because I wanted to dedicate a good result to the team in my last race.”

Fausto Gresini, Team manager: “It was a strange race and we haven’t got the results we were hoping for. But overall it’s been a positive season for us – I want to congratulate my two riders, starting with Sete, who had some brilliant races and finished as the runner-up, and also Colin who did a good job for us. I wish him all the best for the future. Our objective is to continue to improve day by day.”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team, DNF: “I got a decent start and made up a few places early. I got with the leaders and for a long time felt pretty comfortable. I saw Rossi and Tamada getting away and wanted to close the gap – I had the speed on them and wanted to get past Tamada to chase Rossi as quick as possible. Later in the race I got sucked into Turn 1 behind Biaggi in his draft and ran a little wide and lost a couple of places. I got going again and caught Tamada – still wanted to get past and chase the boys ahead. It was the simplest of crashes! Just pushed the front – held it for a long time and almost saved it on my knee but its not 100% strong at the moment and I just didn’t have the strength in it to save it. Just down and out. So frustrating. I knew I had the speed. I just didn’t want to cruise around and get another fifth. That ain’t no way to end the year. It’s going to be a long winter but we’ll come back stronger.”

250cc

Dani Pedrosa, Telefonica MoviStar Honda, 1st: “I was really keen to get a good result at Valencia – last year I couldn’t race but the fans showed a lot of affection towards me at a difficult time. The track didn’t have much grip and it was difficult to set a fast pace. Porto set a fast rhythm at the start but I opened up a gap over him as soon as I could and was able to build a comfortable advantage, until he crashed. At the end of the race I began to have problems with the bike and I was worried that I wouldn’t make it to the end. This is the end of a marvellous year which started with a lot of doubt but has finished in the best possible way. I have to say thanks to Honda for allowing me to test the MotoGP bike tomorrow – I’m very excited about it, it’s a real privilege and I hope to enjoy it.”

Toni Elias, Fortuna Honda, 2nd: “It was a pretty tough race and Aoyama rode hard today but, in the end, I was able to get past him in the last few laps and set a rhythm which he couldn’t match.

” The real shame was the crash at the start of the race by Alex de Angelis because I had to ride around him and lost of precious time which allowed Pedrosa and Porto to escape.

“To end the race on the podium is always a good result, even though I would have preferred it to be a victory, but in any case I think this is a decent result for us even if we had different objectives at the start of the season.”

Roberto Rolfo, Fortuna Honda, 8th: ” I have to be happy with eighth even though it is not where I want to be. But after all the problems we have had this weekend in qualifying and the crash it’s not bad. I would have liked to be battling with Fonsi and Battaini but when the rear tyre started to go I had grip problems and had to rely on the front, where I have had problems all season.

“The team have worked wonders all season but the problem has been with the bike. I was down on acceleration but in general the bike was going well and I just concentrated on doing as well as I possibly could.”

David de Gea, Wurth Honda BQR, 12th:”I am really happy with my result my best from the four races with the team. I have to thank them and Dunlop for all the good work they did for me. I had to have two pain killing injections before the race and I felt good from the start. I got off the grid well land was racing in a fast group but on lap 12or so the pain-killer wore off and my shoulder started to ache so I held on to my position. The bike was perfect all weekend a great weekend for me, even if I do have some pain now.”

Jakub Smrz, Molenaar Honda, 14th: “The start and first laps of the race were very good, I think I was 14th. But then I started to have pain from my injured shoulder and lost a little ground. Once I got used to the pain I was faster but not really strong enough to mount a serious attack but I am happy with the points in the situation. The season is over and I can look back on the year with some satisfaction. I scored points in all but two of the races I finished, it’s just a pity I crashed a couple of times.”

Alex Debon, Wurth Honda BQR, 15th: “I crashed at a slow corner on lap eight, the front turned in on me. I went from seventh to almost last. Up until then my feeling with the bike was just great the problem was that I bent an exhaust pipe when I fell and the bike was not perfect after that. I’m really unhappy with myself because I cold have finished the season as best private rider again. Very disappointing.”

Hirosi Aoyama, Disqualified: “I am gutted abut the disqualification. We had a great race and I really enjoyed it. I made the most of the chaos caused by De Angelis’ crash to get myself into a podium position. The fight with Elías was intense, I don’t remember how many times we passed each other, but at the end of the race I had no grip on the rear tyre and I had to battle to hang on to third place. I want to say thanks to my team, who have been fantastic all year and taught me a lot in my first season in the World Championship. We are all very upset about the disqualification.”

Alberto Puig, Team manager: “What can I say? To see both riders on the podium is sensational. Dani showed once again that he is the best rider in the category, whilst Hiro continued with his positive progression. It’s a great way to end the season, but the Hiro’s desqualified has been a real shame”.


125cc:

Andrea Dovizioso, Scot Honda, 2nd: “The track was completely different today than for qualifying, in fact the lap times were faster than expected. When I ran off the track I was lucky not to crash. Recovering was very difficult for two big reasons; the rear tyre was already wearing badly and then when I caught the group of fast riders the fight between us made us slower. That allowed Barbera to get away. I cannot say I would have beaten him if I hadn’t ran off track but it would have been close. I’m very happy with our season though. The team and the bike were perfect all year and I rode well and we won the championship by 91 points, it could not have been better for us.”

Simone Corsi, Kopron Scot Honda, 8th: “The bike was so much better today than qualifying the tam did a really good job. The race was strange because after only three laps the rear tyre started sliding. We ran the same compound in the warm up this morning, an old tyre with 16 laps on it and I could run 1m 40.8s laps. So I cant understand why it was l siding so much. That meant I could not stay with the group I was racing with. But it was an OK result in the circumstances.”

Julian Simon, Angaia Honda, 13th: “At the start I got hit by Talmacsi and Lai and my leg dislodged the air box. The bike was OK for about nine laps then the cover came off the air box at one end and the bike really slowed. That, together with rear tyre wear towards the end, spoilt my race.”

Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda, 14th: “That was a so – so race for me. I got a good start and pushed hard for the first two laps and I was running OK but half way through the race the rear tyre started to go away and I couldn’t make up any more places. From then on I raced off my pit board making sure nobody closed on me. We have finished for the season and I’ll take a holiday and look forward to next season..”

Lukas Pesek, Ajo Motorsport Honda, dnf- crash: “I was effectively out of the race at the second corner. I don’t know who hit me, Ballerini or Rodriguez. This is the worst possible way to finish the season, I’m really disappointed. ”

Dario Giuseppetti, Elit Honda, dnf – crash: The rear end was sliding early in the race there was no grip at all. In a flat in fourth gear left hand corner the back let go so fast that I had no chance to save it. I had a pretty spectacular high side. I have a small fracture in my foot, nothing drastic, and a badly bruised leg. But both will be very painful in the morning.

Raymond Schouten, Molenaar Honda, dnf: “I really should not have raced. I got up this morning and felt very ill with a cold and the flu I have. I took some medicine but it didn’t help much. In the race I was never comfortable so I stopped.”


Results

MotoGP
Race Classification MotoGP : (30 laps = 120.15 km)
Pos/ Rider / Nat / Team / Motorcycle / Time/ KM/H
1 / Valentino ROSSI / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha / YAMAHA / 47’16.145 / 152.509
2 / Max BIAGGI / ITA / Camel Honda / HONDA / 47’16.570 / 152.486
3 / Troy BAYLISS / AUS / Ducati Marlboro Team / DUCATI / 47’19.278 / 152.341
4 / Sete GIBERNAU / SPA / Telefonica Movistar Honda Mot / HONDA / 47’22.273 / 152.181
5 / Makoto TAMADA / JPN / Camel Honda / HONDA / 47’23.913 / 152.093
6 / Alex BARROS / BRA / Repsol Honda Team / HONDA / 47’30.820 / 151.724
7 / Shinya NAKANO / JPN / Kawasaki Racing Team / KAWASAKI / 47’39.460 / 151.266
8 / Colin EDWARDS / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda Mot / HONDA / 47’43.586 / 151.048
9 / Loris CAPIROSSI / ITA / Ducati Marlboro Team / DUCATI / 47’45.548 / 150.944
10 / Norick ABE / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 / YAMAHA / 47’47.682 / 150.832
11 / Alex HOFMANN / GER / Kawasaki Racing Team / KAWASAKI / 47’57.096 / 150.339
12 / John HOPKINS / USA / Team Suzuki MotoGP / SUZUKI / 48’18.159 / 149.246
13 / Jere