Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island, Australia
MotoGP Race Results:
1. Valentino ROSSI, Honda, 41:53.543, 27 laps, 10-second penalty
2. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, -5.212 seconds
3. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, -12.039 seconds
4. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, -12.070 seconds
5. Tohru UKAWA, Honda, -12.294 seconds
6. Olivier JACQUE, Yamaha, -28.017 seconds
7. Shinya NAKANO, Yamaha, -28.044 seconds
8. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, -40.112 seconds
9. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, -41.410 seconds
10. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, -49.902 seconds
11. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Proton, -51.260 seconds
12. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, -54.101 seconds
13. Garry McCOY, Kawasaki, -54.779 seconds
14. Noriyuki HAGA, Aprilia, -61.520 seconds
15. Andrew PITT, Kawasaki, -66.080 seconds
16. Colin EDWARDS, Aprilia, -66.630 seconds
17. Max BIAGGI, Honda, -74.003 seconds
18. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, -1 lap
19. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, -1 lap
20. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, -1 lap
21. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, -13 laps, DNF, crash
22. Alex BARROS, Yamaha, -18 laps, DNF, mechanical
23. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, crash
24. David DE GEA, Harris WCM, -27 laps, DNF, crash
World Championship Point Standings (after 15 of 16 rounds):
1. ROSSI, 332*
2. GIBERNAU, 257
3. BIAGGI, 215
4. CAPIROSSI, 161
5. HAYDEN, 130
6. UKAWA, 123
7. BAYLISS, 119
8. CHECA, 112
9. NAKANO, 101
10. BARROS, 91
11. TAMADA, 81
12. JACQUE, 71
13. EDWARDS, 54
14. HAGA, 46
15. MELANDRI, 45
16. HOPKINS, 26
17. Norick ABE, 24
18. McWILLIAMS, 23
19. KIYONARI, 20
20. AOKI, 19
21. ROBERTS, 17
22. McCOY, 11
23. Alex HOFMANN, 8
24. Alira RYO, 6
25. Yukio KAGAYAMA, 4
26. PITT, 4
* Clinched World Championship
More, from a press release issued by Proton Team Roberts:
V5 Eleventh in OZ
McWILL snags V5’s best finish
Jeremy McWilliams: 11th
Nobuatsu Aoki: 18th
Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams finished 11th in today’s Australian GP, his first points on the radical new four-stroke KR V5, and the best finish so far in the machine’s ninth race. Two races ago, team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki took the 990cc machine’s first points, finishing 14th in Japan.
McWilliams had started from the third row of the grid – another best-so-far for the howling England-built independent racer, and fought almost throughout the race with the factory Suzuki of John Hopkins and the factory Kawasaki of Garry McCoy, before outpacing them both at the finish.
The result shows the rapid progress made by a machine that had not even seen a race-track until five months ago. But the team’s pleasure was tempered by problems faced by his team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki, who finished the race close to collapse. Only the Japanese rider’s courage and determination enabled him to bring the machine home, to add another double finish to the record books.
Aoki was suffering a painful neck after a crash on the first day of qualifying. As a result he started hyperventilating during the race. In the last laps, his left arm went numb – a classic symptom, according to team physiotherapist Dean Miller. Nonetheless he struggled to the chequered flag, but by the time he reached the pits was seriously debilitated and unable to speak. Miller helped him to control his breathing to drop the over-boosted oxygen levels in his blood, and he recovered fully over the next half-an-hour.
The race was run over 27 laps of a dry track, after heavy morning-long rain cleared just in time for the start of the main event. It was won by an inspired 2003 champion Valentino Rossi (Honda) in spite of a ten-second penalty for overtaking under the yellow caution flags. There is one more round remaining, the Valencia GP in two weeks.
Jeremy McWilliams
It was good getting to race for the points again, and I enjoyed it. As always, it could have been better. I had a fuelling problem in the early stages and the engine kept pushing with the throttle closed. I nearly came into the pits, but I didn’t skittle anybody because of it, and on about the third lap it came better. I was having a big battle with McCoy and Hopkins. It was very frustrating to get passed on the straight, and have to battle it all back at the hairpins. Unfortunately Tamada came through on the Honda, and I couldn’t do anything about him. But I managed to lose the other two. I enjoyed the race, and it’s good to have some points and see the guys in the team happy, after all their hard work. Maybe it will even bring a smile to the Old Bugger’s face! (Team owner Kenny Roberts, who was not in Australia.)
Nobuatsu Aoki
After about 15 laps I started to breath very fast. Because of my neck pain, I forgot to breath regularly. Dino (Miller) told me that it meant I had too much oxygen. After that my left had became numb, and it got very very hard. But there were only five laps to go, so I thought maybe I could make it. When I came to the pit box I was really bad, and I couldn’t speak. Again, Dino helped me a lot. This weekend has not been good for me, but I did my job and got the finish. For the race, I chose the wrong rear tyre, with too soft a compound. I thought because the track was cold it would be better. That was a mistake, and I struggled with that all race long.
Chuck Aksland – Team Manager
Nobu had a bad weekend that really knocked the spunk out of him. It was such a brave ride. He should really have pulled in, but that’s not the kind of character he is. Jeremy had a great ride. It was really good to see our bike up there racing with the group, and finishing ahead of them. I don’t think he had much chance to get bored! It was a good result, and we’re pretty happy with the way our bike had dealt with the three flyaway races without problems, and getting our first points. Next year we’ll be back with a much better bike.
More, from a press release issued by Alice Aprilia:
Against the wind
Both Aprilia RS Cube bikes completed the race at Phillip Island but it was very tough for Edwards and Haga because of the loss of the feeling in the front due to the strong wind in the straight and in the entrance of the corners.
Colin Edwards: “I had a bad start and in the first corner I was in the middle of an incredible bagarre . Riders everywhere and I was not able to fight with pluck cause I had no feeling with that bike. I am sorry but I could not do more than this … I had no feeling with the front”.
Noriyuki Haga: “I had a good start and did all the best. The wind annoyed me very much moving my bike in different positions so I made a few mistakes. It was not easy to ride in those conditions and I had a scarce feeling with the front”.
Gigi Dall’Igna (Project Leader): “The day started badly cause one technical damage on Colin’s bike no. 1 forced him to use the second one but the front fork was not tested often so we did not achieve any good result. Nori hada good start but the wind complicated the rest of his race. It’s a pity as he was at 100% this week end”.
More, from a press release issued by Camel Pramac Pons:
Camel Pramac Pons secures the runner-up spot in the World Championship for Teams
The fifteenth race of the MotoGP season, the Australian Grand Prix, finally got underway this afternoon on Phillip Island in very different conditions to those in the morning warm-up as the torrential morning rain gave way to clear skies and allowed for a dry race but with slippery track conditions. Tohru Ukawa battled in the leading group for third place right up until the final lap when he made contact with Nicky Hayden and had to settle for fifth spot. The Italian Max Biaggi, who crashed when he was unable to avoid dirt on the track kicked up by Australian Troy Bayliss who had crashed moments before, did not manage to finish in the points. The MotoGP World Championship now returns to Europe after four overseas races for the deciding round in Valencia on November 2nd. The Camel Pramac Pons team will head into this race having secured the runner-up spot in the World Team Championship at today’s race.
5th Tohru Ukawa:
“I bumped into Hayden at the start of the last lap which made me lose contact with him and this meant I lost all chance of finishing third. I am not unhappy with the race as I stayed among the leading group and I enjoyed the racing. However, I expected more. It was very windy and the track was dirty from the rain that fell before and, halfway through the race when I was following Capirossi and Gibernau, a stone was thrown up and broke the windshield on my bike”.
17th Max Biaggi:
“I made a great start and entered the first corner in first place, but at the second the bike moved too much, perhaps because the tyre was cold, and I was overtaken by some riders. When I was at the back of the leading group Bayliss crashed out and as a result there was dirt on the track just at my braking point. I blocked the two wheels, but I came off the brakes and continued straight on to avoid falling. However, I fell when I hit the wet grass. It was a shame because I had a good rhythm and could have fought for a podium finish”.
Sito Pons:
“We did not have much luck today. Biaggi was definitely in the running for the race – he was in the leading group, had a lot of pace and all weekend he had been very competitive. On the other hand Ukawa had a good race. He battled aggresively from start to finish, but a collision on the last lap prevented him from finishing on the podium”.
More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
Ducati Marlboro Team takes another podium finish and secures second place in constructor’s World Championship
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi scored a superb second-place finish in today’s Australian GP to secure second position in the 2003 MotoGP constructors’ World Championship for Ducati. But the factory’s delight at achieving this success during its first GP campaign in more than three decades was tempered by an accident involving Capirossi’s team-mate Troy Bayliss. The Australian suffered mild concussion in the fall and has been airlifted to Melbourne hospital for check-ups.
“This has been an up and down weekend for us, but the main thing for us is that Troy isn’t badly hurt,” said Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo. “His crash was a real shame because without it I think we could have put both guys on the podium today. But that’s racing, and, as I said, we’re just happy that Troy seems okay. Loris rode a great race, enough to give us second place in the constructors’ World Championship. I think this is a great achievement in our first MotoGP campaign, so I’d like to offer my thanks to everyone involved for their incredible work over the past couple of years: Loris, Troy, the team, the factory and our technical partners including Shell Advance and Michelin. Now we go to Valencia in positive mood, hoping for a great end to the season.”
Capirossi rides to best result since Catalunya
Loris Capirossi rode a storming race to second place at Phillip Island today to secure fourth spot in the 2003 riders’ World Championship. Contesting his 199th Grand Prix, the Ducati Marlboro Team rider ended the race five seconds down on winner Valentino Rossi (Honda) who won despite incurring a ten-second penalty for overtaking under yellow flags. During the early stages Capirossi was involved in a frantic five-man battle behind Rossi but the Italian was able to make good his escape for his fifth top-three finish of 2003, which was also his best result since his victory at June’s Marlboro Catalan GP.
“I didn’t really know what was going on with Rossi’s time penalty,” said Capirossi who had started from second on the grid. “This was the first time that I’ve been in this situation, so I was a bit confused by my pit board. The board was correct but it was just difficult to understand because this was the first time such a thing had happened. We also need to think about the yellow flag situation – when you’re riding at 300kmh with ten other riders it’s very difficult to see a yellow flag by the side of the track, and even if you do see the flag it’s difficult to brake right there.”
“All I do know is that the early laps were very difficult because everyone was being very aggressive, so I couldn’t find my rhythm. Then when I overtook Melandri for second Rossi was maybe six seconds ahead on the road, so I knew I couldn’t beat him. But second is very good for me and the team, especially after the last three races that weren’t so great for us. The bike worked really well here all weekend, only one Honda was faster than us, so we’re very happy. When I finished the race the first thing I wanted to know was Troy’s condition. I’m very happy he’s pretty much okay.”
Bayliss suffers mild concussion in heavy tumble
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss is recovering in Melbourne hospital from a heavy fall during this afternoon’s Phillip Island GP. The Australian was battling for the lead when lost control at the entry to the low-speed Honda hairpin on lap four. Bayliss fell heavily, immediately receiving trackside assistance before being taken to the track medical centre where he was conscious and able to talk, though he had no memory of the crash or of the race. He has no broken bones but was helicoptered to Melbourne hospital for precautionary checks.
More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:
Brave effort from Melandri; persistent ride from Checa
Today’s Australian Grand Prix proved to be one of the closest and most hard fought races of the season, and Fortuna Yamaha rider Marco Melandri stole the limelight by leading much of the 27-lap race. Unfortunately Melandri’s daring efforts to remain in the top three riders were shattered when he highsided and fell off his YZR-M1 on an unlucky 13th lap. His team-mate Checa rode to a steady eighth, having been stuck behind a group for most of the contest.
Melandri made impressive and immediate progress in the opening stages, slipping into fourth by turn one, third by the end of the first lap, then clinching the lead on lap two. The Italian held on to the lead until lap four, after some sensational passing moves, when Ducati rider Troy Bayliss ran into the back of Melandri’s M1, forcing the 250cc World Champion back to third. Melandri recovered to cross the line in second place on the following lap, and was set to pursue race leader Valentino Rossi, when he highsided exiting the penultimate turn. Melandri, who technically led the race at the beginning of that 13th lap after Rossi received a 10 seconds penalty for passing under the yellow flag, limped away from the incident with a dislocated right shoulder and haematoma to his left heel.
“I was so happy with that race until I fell,” said the gutsy Melandri, who last year won his 250cc title at the Australian circuit. “I wanted to use a softer rear tyre but nfortunately it wasn’t possible. I didn’t start as well as I would have liked, but up until the first corner the other riders seemed slower than me and then braked earlier than me at the first corner. I guess they were more cautious because of the track conditions, and I managed to overtake a few very quickly.
“When Bayliss fell he touched me and I very nearly lost it, but I managed to recover. Once Valentino was in front it was impossible to catch him but I really enjoyed racing with Hayden, Capirossi and Gibernau. My bike felt a bit more nervous during the race than it has during qualifying here, and I kept losing grip in the long corners. Finally it resulted in a highside. I knew straight away that I had dislocated my shoulder, and when I arrived at the circuit clinic they pushed it back in. Anyway it’s not hurting too badly now, and it was a fantastic chance to race up front, my best of the season.”
With the top ten covered by less than two seconds during the first five laps it looked as though any one of the lead group could have taken the race win. After a difficult start Checa found himself at the rear of this pack before gradually working his way through to feature in the battle for the final podium place. It was a charge between Honda riders Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau and Tohru Ukawa. The trio eventually finished third, fourth and fifth respectively, after Checa ran off the circuit at MG corner and rejoined to finish eighth.
“I was able to follow the second group of riders for most of the race and tried to pass them but couldn’t,” said Checa. “I kept analysing where would be the best place to pass, and trying to improve in the areas where I wasn’t as quick as them, especially exiting the corners. At one point I lost the front completely going uphill and slid all the way down downhill, finally releasing the brake and going onto the grass. It was hard to turn it around and even harder to get it back onto the track, but I managed to. To finish eighth was better than not finishing at all, and I felt my pace was quite good. I couldn’t catch the others but I had a good rhythm, and was relieved to finish and get some points in such difficult track conditions.”
Team Director Davide Brivio said, “Marco rode such a fantastic race, and it was entertaining for everyone. Unfortunately he didn’t make it to the end but I think he really showed his great potential today. We’ll evaluate his health in the coming week and see whether he’ll be fit for Valencia. Carlos was stuck behind a group but made a reasonable race. Valencia will be his last race in front of the home crowd so we wish him all the best for there.”
Despite Rossi’s 10 second penalty the recently crowned 2003 MotoGP World Champion put in a dominating performance to cross the line 15.212 seconds ahead of second-placed Ducati rider Loris Capirossi. The on track advantage allowed Rossi to take the win by 5.212 seconds.
More, from a press release issued by Harris WCM:
David de Gea: DNF
“I am very disappointed to have crashed on the first lap. We have some technical problems that my crew chief will look into. All I can say is I hope for much better things in Valencia. It really has not been a good weekend for me.”
Chris Burns: 19th
“It feels alright to finish my first GP of the year, I wanted to finish for the guys on the team but to be honest it¹s not where I want to finish. After five laps, the tyre dropped off and I was sideways, spinning it up. I was about 2 seconds down on my lap time from yesterday but just had to bring it home and finish the race. I really could not ride the wheels off it, I¹m had to take it really easy and bring it home. It’s my last chance in Valencia.”
Peter Clifford (Team Manager)
“Very pleased to see Chris finish his race and he was mixing it well with the factory bikes in the opening laps. Valuable experience for him, a good ride and I am sure he is looking forward to Valencia.
As far as David’s first lap incident is concerned its quite strange, we are yet to find out what actually happened.”
More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:
Rossi wins race of the season despite ten second penalty
As an onshore wind blew across the Bass Strait in southern Australia, Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) stormed to his eighth win of the season in front of an enthralled 45,000 crowd. The World Champion was unmatched in speed and determination as he decimated the field and the 10 second penalty he was given for overtaking under yellow flags. Loris Capirosssi (Ducati) was second with Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) third.
There was an almost tangible intensity to this penultimate round of the sixteen race World Championship and when Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) fired his machine into the lead at turn one from the second row of the grid, the action never let up for a second.
After two days of qualifying in bright sun and dry conditions, raceday began with a heavy rainfall. The 125 race was run in a downpour, the 250 Grand Prix on a wet track that began to dry in the final laps, and the MotoGP showdown on a dry but dirty surface that was to cause riders enormous trouble.
No one suffered more than Aussie hopeful Troy Bayliss (Ducati) who crashed heavily on lap four and lay frighteningly motionless at the trackside before recovering consciousness in the medical centre. He was then sitting-up and talking, but was airlifted to Melbourne for a thorough check-up, where he was pronounced fit and well.
Rossi took the lead in the chaotic aftermath of the crash, relieving early leader Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) of his second place and then early lap leader Marco Melandri (Yamaha) of his leadership on that same lap. But it was to cost him a ten second penalty.
Biaggi, who relinquished the lead at turn two on the opening lap when he ran wide, also crashed when Bayliss’ debris of dust and smashed machine temporarily obscured his vision. He was to remount and finish a distant 17th after losing two laps while struggling with his crashed machine in the grass run-off area at Honda Corner.
Rossi meanwhile was working his way through his punishment with measured speed. He reeled off fastest lap after fastest lap in his successful bid to put 10 seconds between himself and Capirossi in second. On lap seven the gap was 1.3 seconds. By lap 23, with four to go, the gap was 10.4 seconds and the champ had put in the fastest lap of the race on lap 18 at 1m 31.421 seconds.
“That race was incredible,” said Rossi. “I knew I had a good rhythm, perhaps better than the others. It was dangerous because everyone was very aggressive at the start and with the strong wind the bike was very difficult to control. I saw my pit board and saw ‘less 10′ and didn’t know what it meant. Afterwards I thought yellow flag, but I didn’t see any flag. I’ve never ridden a race like that at 100% all the time.”
Hayden was overjoyed with his achievement of a podium in his first year of MotoGP. “I really wanted a legitimate podium and now I’ve got one,” he said. “I wanted to go with Valentino and Capirossi, but I just couldn’t match their speed. But I got Ukawa and then Gibernau on the last lap. Hopefully the best is yet to come.”
Gibernau was intent on wrapping up second place in the World Championship – which he did with his fourth place. “Obviously I would have liked to be on the podium,” he said. “But I am very satisfied. All season I’ve taken each race as it comes, but here I was thinking of the bigger picture, especially as we had such a tough weekend crashing in qualifying.”
Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) finished fifth after getting in among the fast men early in the race and contributing massively to the three-way dust-up for third place that had the enthusiastic Aussie crowd enraptured for the second half of the race.
“I had a coming together with Hayden on the last lap and that ruined my chances of a podium,” said the Japanese. “I really wanted that podium, but I’m not that unhappy because my start was okay (at last) and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to be in contact with the front runners.”
Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) finished tenth after finding it difficult adjusting to the strong wind here. “I’ve never ridden in a wind like that,” said the Japanese rookie. “And that first bend after the start when everyone was bunched up was quite something. I chose a front tyre that was a bit too soft thinking the lower temperature would bear out the decision. But I made some mistakes in my riding and that’s why I didn’t do better.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) had a tough time down in 19th place. “I knew it would not be an easy race today,” said the Japanese rookie. “I had a good set-up but the race conditions were different to qualifying. Anyway I’ve picked up some more experience and I gave it everything I could.”
Honda Team Quotes:
MotoGP:
Valentino Rossi , Repsol honda Team: 1st: “The race for me was incredible. I knew I had a good rhythm. Perhaps a little bit better than the others. I make a bad start and had to fight a lot at the beginning. It was very dangerous because everyone was very aggressive. A lot of heavy braking and with the strong wind the bike was difficult to control. I attacked and after seven or eight laps I see on my board “less 10”. I didn’t understand what it meant. Next time I see ‘P8’. I say to myself ‘f*** what happened?’ After I thought the yellow flag but I don’t remember. I didn’t see any flag. Two victories with the yellow flag in one year is incredible. I don’t have a problem with the points so I close my eyes for the last 10 laps. I never make a race at 100% before all the time. Maybe today is the first time.
I make the number 7 flag in respect for my friend Barry Sheene. He was a magic person; much more than a world champion. He changed a little bit the whole sport. When I come back here we have a strange feeling. I understand he’s gone so we make a flag using a sheet from the hotel. I’m sorry hotel!”
Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team: 3rd: “You gotta’ crawl before you can walk! I’ve been movin’ up recently and really startin’ to fight with the top guys over the last few races. I really wanted to get a legitimate podium and now I got one. We were all goin’ at it out there; some real scrappin’. It was good to lead my first GP of a time. I wanted to go with Valentino and Capirossi but couldn’t match their speed. I made a little mistake in the rocks where Bayliss fell and lost a few spots. I just kept workin’ forward. I got Ukawa and then managed to get Gibernau on the last lap. I’m so happy and am real pleased my dad was here to see it. I’d like to thank all the team, Honda and my sponsors. Hopefully the best is yet to come!”
Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 4th: “All season I have taken each race as it comes, but here I was thinking about second spot in the championship. We were having a tough weekend – my crash yesterday meant we lost a lot of time and after crashing again in the warm-up I had to go out on the second bike. I made a good start but had a problem changing down through the gears and decided to race for the championship. Obviously I would have liked to be on the podium but I am very satisfied. Now I am looking forward to the last race at home I will be relaxed in Valencia, ready to fight for the podium and hopefully to put on a good show for the crowd “.
Fausto Gresini, Team Manager: “It has not been an easy weekend. Sete had two crashes and it was important for him to finish the race today and seal the runner-up spot in the championship. Mission accomplished, I am very happy and congratulations to Sete. He had a great race and he kept his concentration despite the crashes. We know what we have to do to improve and we will be working on it. Now we are a bit more relaxed heading to Valencia and I hope Sete has fun in front of his crowd”.
Tohru Ukawa , Camel Pramac Pons: 5th “No podium and I´m not happy about that. The start was okay and it´s a long time since I´ve been with the leading group and fighting for position. It was a lot windier than yesterday and that didn´t help anyone, but when I was with Gibernau and Hayden, they had slightly more traction. And after me and Hayden touched on the last lap at turn two I was out of the fight.”
Makoto Tamada, Pramac Honda Team: 10th: “I’ve never ridden in a wind like that. The first bend after the start, when everyone was bunched up, it was quite something. I tried to get a good pace and move up, but possibly I chose a front tie that was a bit too soft – but then the much lower temperature than in the previous days did seem to bear out this decision. The tyres were actually very good, even at the end of the race. So I’m satisfied, especially for the experience I got of riding in the strong wind that flayed the circuit today. I maintained a good pace but I also made some mistakes and that’s why I didn’t do better.”
Max Biaggi, Camel Pramac Pons, 17th: I crashed soon after Bayliss. I couldn´t see a thing through all the sand, grit and debris so I just braked as hard as I could, but I ran onto the grass and crashed off track, there wasn´t much I could do to save it. That was real shame because I was right up there after a
great start. That turn two episode lost me the lead, but I was still in contention until the crash.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Team: 19th: “I knew it wouldn’t be an easy race today. I had a good set-up but the race conditions were very different than in qualifying. It was very cold and the wind made it hard to control the bike. Anyway, I think I picked up some good experience and I gave everything I could”.
More, from a press release issued by Pramac Honda Racing Information:
Tamada makes top ten in penultimate round
After two not exactly easy days, Makoto Tamada ended the Australian world championship race at Phillip Island in tenth place. However the rain that never stopped coming down from the warm-up through to the 250 race spared the MotoGP as a strong south-westerly wind blew away all the clouds. Tamada started out seventeenth on the grid and had to deal with strong gusts of wind on the more exposed parts of the track. So the race was in the dry, with an air temperature of 15 degrees (59 °F) and a ground temperature of 21 (70 °F). Yesterday’s settings were used for Makoto’s RC211V, with a medium front tyre and a medium-hard rear.
The Pramac Honda Team rider was in 19th place at the end of the first lap but slipped back to 21st in the fourth before he got his feeling for the race. Then he started battling his way up through the pack the way we are used to seeing him do. Duels and passes, all the way through to the 21st lap when he got into tenth place – a position he held until the end of the race.
A result that was deemed satisfactory since the rider had to deal with changeable weather conditions, and especially because he had never raced in such strong wind. Another important chapter in the experience he has been gaining in his first year of the world MotoGP championship.
Makoto Tamada is now 11th in the overall standings, just ten points from 10th place.
Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda ): 10th – 42’43.445
“I’ve never ridden in a wind like that. The first bend after the start, when everyone was bunched up, it was quite something. I tried to get a good pace and move up, but possibly I chose a front tie that was a bit too soft – but then the much lower temperature than in the previous days did seem to bear out this decision. The tyres were actually very good, even at the end of the race. So I’m satisfied, especially for the experience I got of riding in the strong wind that flayed the circuit today. I maintained a good pace but I also made some mistakes and that’s why I didn’t do better.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:
Roberts gets best of year as Suzuki take double points
Phillip Island, Australia – Sunday, October 19, 2003: Team Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins both finished in the points at today’s Australian GP, with Roberts taking his best finish of the year with a strong ninth place. He was only 1.3 seconds away from an even better finish, as he closed on Carlos Checa in the last of the 27 laps of the 43.448km Phillip Island circuit.
Roberts had started well, and maintaine