Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

250cc Grand Prix Results:

1. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 45:14.993, 25 laps
2. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, -14.040 seconds
3. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, -33.511 seconds
4. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, -54.252 seconds, crash
5. Alex DEBON, Honda, -66.895 seconds
6. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, -66.943 seconds
7. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, -73.421 seconds
8. Jaroslav HULES, Honda, -82.119 seconds
9. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, -82.163 seconds
10. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, -85.303 seconds
11. Toni ELIAS, Aprilia, -101.591 seconds
12. Lukas PESEK, Yamaha, -169.682 seconds, crash
13. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, -1 lap
14. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, -1 lap, crash
15. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, -1 lap, crash
16. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, -1 lap
17. Henk vd LAGEMAAT, Honda, -2 laps
18. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, -3 laps
19. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, -2 laps, DNF, crash

22. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, -9 laps, DNF, crash
23. Sebastian PORTO, Honda, -20 laps, DNF, crash
24. Katja POENSGEN, Honda, -21 laps, DNF, crash

26. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, -23 laps, DNF, crash
27. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, -25 laps, DNF, crash


250cc Grand Prix World Championship Point Standings (after 15 of 16 rounds):

1. POGGIALI, 233
2. ROLFO, 226
3. ELIAS, 206
4. DE PUNIET, 183
5. NIETO, 183
6. WEST, 145
7. BATTAINI, 140
8. PORTO, 117
9. MATSUDO, 114
10. GUINTOLI, 88

More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Honda:

Australian Victory carries Rolfo closer to World Championship title

Phillip Island – Australia

Roberto Rolfo scored a clear and very convincing victory in the 250cc Australian Grand Prix and in the process took a very important step towards the 250cc world title. Rolfo is now just seven points adrift of the series leader. The Team Fortuna Honda rider rode an impeccable race from start to finish. In the pre-race warm up he saw the difficult conditions he would face and knew he would be one of the clear favourites for the race. Rolfo had the situation under control all the way and when he saw Australian Anthony West was closing the gap between them he simply upped the race pace to extend his lead making it impossible for his rivals to catch him.

“In the warm up I could see that I would be very fast in the conditions we would face, the bike was really good and the work we had done over the weekend was more than adequate. Even then I knew it would be very complicated.” Explained Rolfo.

“The race went very well, right from the beginning. I made a very good start but even then the first lap was very complicated but everything came good for me and I saw I could go fast and get away, and that’s what I did. I was concentrating at maximum so as not to make a single mistake and keep the situation under control.” Said the Team Fortuna Honda rider.

“Over the closing laps I knew West was closing the gap between us, that’s why I changed my rhythm and increased the pace, I didn’t want things to get complicated in the last couple of laps. I wanted a ‘No worries’ gap between us. The bike worked perfectly all the way and that’s the result of the great job done by the team and it has brought us closer to the world championship than ever. This is a very important result in regard to the championship. With only one race to go we are in a position to fight until the end, and that’s the most important thing of all.” Concluded Roberto Rolfo

Dani Amatriain: “In the name of Fortuna Honda and all the team staff I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Roberto for the race he put in today. But more than anything for his professionalism and the performances he has given all through the season.”