MotoGP 2002 - Round 15 - Phillip Island

Italian Marco Melandri and Frenchman Arnaud Vincent could both clinch world titles at the magnificent Phillip Island circuit on Sunday, in the penultimate round of the MotoGP World Championships, the SKYY VODKA Australian Grand Prix.

Add another four-stroke to the MotoGP pack, with Norick Abe riding the M1 Yamaha for the first time against Grand Prix winners Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Alex Barros and Tohru Ukawa and the stage is set for another great day around the riders favourite track in the 16-round championship, the 4.448 kms (2.764 miles) Phillip Island circuit in Victoria.

The last round of the MotoGP World Championship at Sepang in Malaysia turned into a real old fashioned scrap between the RCV Hondas of World Champion Rossi, his team-mate Ukawa and the Honda Pons star Barros as they chased the eventual winner Biaggi, riding the Yamaha to the line. It should be even better on Sunday as the four-strokes race for the first time around a circuit that is built for Grand Prix motorcycle racing.

Last year we saw what was dubbed the 500cc race of the decade as Rossi clinched the world title when less than three seconds covered the first nine riders. Biaggi won the previous year and is in great form as he brings his Yamaha career to a close. His bitter rival Rossi will not relax after winning the World title three races ago. The Italian is desperate to erase recent defeats by Biaggi and Barros.

Biaggi regained second place in the Championship following his victory at Sepang. The Italian leads Ukawa by just seven points with Barros fourth, a further 23 points adrift. Abe is rewarded for his excellent season that sees him the highest two stroke in the Championship, by having a four-stroke M1 Yamaha in the Yamaha D'Antin colours for the last two races.

Shinya Nakano continues on the four-stroke Yamaha after his impressive sixth place in Malaysia , while his Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Oliver Jacque should be fit to ride after crashing in the same race. Daijiro Kato returns to yet another circuit where he won the 250cc race last year while former World Champion Kenny Roberts will be looking to improve on his eighth place in the Championship, riding the four-stroke Suzuki.

Twenty-six year old Australian Andrew Pitt makes just his second appearance on the four-stroke Kawasaki, in front of his home crowd. The 2001 World Supersport Champion replaces the injured Akira Yanagawa for the last three races and improved his lap times dramatically throughout the weekend at Sepang, riding a MotoGP bike for the first time.

Heading the charge of the rest is Italian Loris Capirossi who has been outstanding riding the Honda Pons NSR500. The gritty Italian will relish the chance to chase the four-strokes on a circuit that should give him more chance than the last two venues. Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams has also been in tremendous form riding the Proton KR 500cc three-cylinder machine and he loves the contours of Phillip Island, having had pole here twice before. It's a big race for Australian Garry McCoy in front of his home fans.

Twenty year-old Italian Marco Melandri must overcome his disappointment at breaking down on the first lap at Sepang as he strives to clinch the World 250cc Championship in the 25 lap race. Riding the Aprilia, he still leads Malaysia winner, Spaniard Fonsi Nieto by 27 points and must finish in front of him to be crowned World Champion in Australia. Nieto no doubt will be helped by his team-mate Toni Elias who protected him in Malaysia, while the likes of third placed Roberto Rolfo, riding the Honda Gresini machine and the Yamaha TVK of Sebastian Porto will also be out to spoil the party.

Frenchman Arnaud Vincent bounced back from his Motegi mechanical misfortunes to win in Malaysia. If he repeats that victory in the 23-lap race on Sunday he would be crowned World Champion. His great rival, the current World Champion Manuel Poggiali was given a lifeline in Malaysia when he crashed his Gilera on the last bend. However, the chequered flag was erroneously waved at the back-markers, and the results where taken from the previous lap and he was awarded fourth place. It a slim lifeline and he must win on Sunday to keep his aspirations alive.

Seventeen year-old Spaniard Daniel Pedrosa, riding the Honda, also kept his small chances open although he lost four vital points in the revised results which saw him awarded third, instead of second place.

Oct 16 - Round 15 - Some interesting statistics in preview to this weekend's Australian GP
Oct 16 - News - Kawasaki will show the new ZX-6R and ZX-6RR models next to the trick new Z1000 at the Australian GP
Oct 16 - Calendar - Revised 2003 MotoGP calendar
Oct 16 - News - Colin Edwards has stated that his deal with Aprilia is now done. He will be on an Aprilia GP machine with Michelin tyres
Oct 16 - Round 15 - Yamaha will show off the 2003 R1, R6, YZ450 and YZ250, WR450 and Road Star Warrior at the Grand Prix this weekend. As a special treat a YZR-M1 MotoGP machine will be displayed on Saturday and Sunday
Oct 16 - Round 15 - Happy Birthday Casey Stoner. The quick kid turns 17 today and will celebrate with a flight over Melbourne and Phillip Island with RAAF Roulettes, lucky boy!
Oct 15 - Round 15 - Happy Birthday Craig Coxhell - Craig Coxhell and Radar's Team Yamaha tested at Phillip Island recently and young Coxhell proved to have the speed on his more experienced team-mates. He is hoping for a big showing in the GP support races. The Shepparton local turned 20 today
Oct 15 - Round 15 - Josh Brookes broke his scaphoid while testing recently but will battle on and race this weekend in the support race for the GP, calling Dr. Costa...........
Oct 15 - Round 15 - Suzuki preview Phillip Island
Oct 15 - Round 15 - Dorna preview this weekend's Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
Oct 15 - Round 15 - University number crunchers rate the rider odds for a win at Phillip Island this weekend
Oct 15 - Round 15 - Honda's hot new CBR600RR will be shown at the Australian Grand Prix this week. Suzuki will show off the 2003 GSX-R1000, SV1000 and SV650
Oct 14 - Round 15 - Marlboro Yamaha preview this weekend's Australian GP
Oct 14 - Round 15 - GP riders start arriving in Australia today for this weekend's Australian GP. Valentino Rossi will be on the Gold Coast early this week before heading to Phillip Island. Two jumbo jets carrying the machinery will arrive in Melbourne tomorrow
Oct 14 - Walk back in time - Last year's Phillip Island GP