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MotoGP
2002 - Round 15 - Phillip Island - Red Bull Yamaha Report October 20th, 2002 |
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MotoGP
2002 - Round 15 - Phillip Island - Red Bull Yamaha Report October 20th, 2002 |
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The Aussie crowd were expecting the best from their
hero, Garry McCoy at today's Australian Grand Prix and his fans launched
him off the grid to the chant of Aussie, Aussie Aussie McCoy, McCoy,
McCoy. But elation soon dropped to bitter disappointment when McCoy pulled into the pits on Lap 14 with a blistered Dunlop rear tyre. A quick tyre change by Garry's pit crew and he was back out in the race, fighting head to head with the leading pack of Rossi and Barros but a lap behind. Setting a lightning lap of 1m32.877 McCoy set the third fastest lap of all riders on Lap 18, when his second Dunlop started to perform perfectly for him. His two-stroke machine keeping pace with the four-stroke giants. But it seemed it was too little too late for the Australian as he ended the day in 18th place. Hopkins was not impressed with his ride today either and is hoping for his best result in Valencia to finish his rookie year in the Top Ten. Hopkins, who raced today for the first time in Phillip Island, is looking forward to returning to Valencia, a track that he has tested on in pre-season testing. Garry McCoy - 18th - "What can I say better luck next year. I think unfortunately the tyre we chose for the race must have been just the bad one in the batch, as we used exactly the same tyre in the second half of the race and it seemed okay. The four strokes got a good jump off the start, compared to us and it wasn't looking too bad at the start. We started to scrap out there and the tyre started to drop off quickly, losing grip mid-corner nearly spitting me off a couple of times. No point to continue, so I just came in for a new tyre. I did not think about passing Barros or Rossi, I could of passed them when they went wide but I just backed off and kept out of their way." John Hopkins - 16th - "I got off the start alright but I was riding a bit off the pace in the beginning and I was a fraction shy on the braking markers early on. I started going backwards after a few laps and I calmed myself down and the rear then started to slide around a bit. By the time I was back on the pace, the tyre had no edge grip. I got too hot on the corner around the back horseshoe and lost the front on the grass. I picked it up and rejoined the race at the least, I had to beat Pitt." Peter Clifford - Director Of Racing - "It doesn't get much more on an anti-climax than that. Words inadequately express the disappointment. A single bright point to take away from this is the skill and determination exhibited by Garry and John."
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