SLuckless Sete Gibernau (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) endured a frustrating afternoon when he suffered a fuel management system problem on the final lap while challenging eventual race winner Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) for the lead. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) finished second while Max Biaggi (Repsol Honda RC211V) was third.

The race got under way under cooler conditions than have been usual this weekend, with a track temperature of 23 degrees and an ambient of 20 degrees. Pole-sitter Gibernau led from the lights into turn one with Rossi and early front-runner Marco Melandri (Team Movistar Honda RC211V) right up with him.

Rossi grabbed the lead and headed the pack across the line for lap two with Gibernau tucked in behind him, Melandri holding onto them with Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) in close pursuit of the trio, and Capirossi getting on terms in fifth.

Gibernau recorded an early fastest lap of the race as he worked on staying close to Rossi and the leading pair had soon pulled out a noticeable gap on their pursuers by the start of the third lap. They would remain locked together at the front for the rest of the race barring the final lap.

Behind the lead duo, the action was gripping as first Melandri then Hayden tried to get on terms with the leaders. Then by mid-race it was Alex Barros (Camel Honda RC211V) who had powered his way to third with Hayden fourth and Capirossi fifth.

Max, who had seemingly ruled himself out the results here with a desultory qualifying performance, was on a charge; the set-up problems he had encountered on qualifying rubber lessened in their effects by less grippy Michelin race tyres he chose. He had started from the fourth row of the grid.

As the closing laps drew on, it became clear that Barros did not have the pace to get near the Gibernau/Rossi battle, but Capirossi did and the diminutive Italian gave it everything to try to spoil the party at the front. But, while Gibernau tried to stretch Rossi, Capirossi’s efforts proved in vain.

Gibernau led the closing laps until the final turn on the penultimate lap when Rossi seized his chance to rob the Spaniard of victory. While Rossi led across the line for the final time Max had ambushed Hayden and Barros for fourth place.

But as Gibernau stalked Rossi down the dips of the first section of this 5.403km track, the vast crowd was ready for a repeat of the scintillating last lap duels between these two gladiators that have set the season alight. It was not to be - Gibernau slowed with just as he was ready to set about Rossi.

Capirossi inherited second place as he passed the stricken Gibernau while Rossi learned of his fierce rival’s plight only after he had returned to the parc fermé post race. Max was delighted to take a third podium finish so far in what has proved a troubled season.

Sete said, “Another negative day after a weekend in which we have done a great job during qualifying. This morning we had a good rhythm in the warm up with some low 1m 58s, a pace I knew would allow me to fight for the win. In the race I wasn’t able to set the same pace and that was the main problem. Then a fuel problem prevented me from finishing the race, which topped it off. I’m really disappointed because once again I gave it everything I had and it’s a shame to end the race in this way.”

Max said, “That is an amazing result and one that makes me very happy for both myself and for all my team. It has been a very hard weekend and I knew that the race would be difficult from the fourth row. We made the best possible result from our position and I hope this is the start of the more positive part of the season for me. For sure it has not been easy so far. We test here for the next two days and I am very much looking forward to the next races with renewed confidence.”

Alex was disappointed with fourth and said, “On the last lap I would have been able to challenge for the podium, Sete stopped right in front of me, and I had to close the throttle too. However that’s the way it went, we need to think about the next objective, Motegi, and try to make the most of tomorrow’s test to improve our staying power, because in everything else both the Michelins and the bike are perfect.”

Nicky, in fifth, said, “The pace was so fast up front but that’s what you get with the best riders in the world. They dropped the hammer at the start and just went. I tried my hardest to make my boys proud but it didn’t happen this weekend. It was all good experience and I’m happy to be testing here tomorrow because we’re going to have to be in good shape for the rest of the season.”

Marco said of his sixth place, “This morning we made a few changes to the bike and I set a good pace that gave me confidence for the race. I got a good start and forced my way into the lead group but over the first few laps I started to lose traction. I pushed my rhythm to try and stay near the front but I really punished the front tyre. From there on I just tried to finish the race. The two days of tests will be really important ahead of Motegi”.

Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda RC211V) said, “Things pretty much went as I expected today. I honestly don’t know what I have to do to go as fast as the front group, because I’m not saving myself, both in practice and the race I’m giving my all, just as my team do too. It felt like I didn’t have grip on the front and so staying ahead of Tamada, who I had a good duel with, was a slight piece of satisfaction. Ninth is better than in the last two races, but we’re not here for that.”

Makoto Tamada (Konica Minolta Honda RC211V) “We tried a new race setting today, but we had more negative sides than the positive ones, and this didn’t allow me to result sufficiently fast. I have many problems in breaking. The bike didn’t seem really stable. The rear tyre allowed me to be really constant during the all 22 laps, but I still don’t find the maximum confidence to push it more. I hope to find a good confidence in Motegi because I want to try anyhow to remain with the fastest. I really care about that race.”

The World Championship situation with six races remaining now looks like this: Rossi 261, Biaggi 129, Melandri 126, Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 123, Gibernau 115.

Dani Pedrosa (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) won the 250cc race in comprehensive style beating great rival Jorge Lorenzo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) across the line by 1.303 seconds after 20 laps. Consistent Casey Stoner (Aprilia) was third.

Hiroshi Aoyama (Team Movistar Honda RS250RW) was the early leader of a six-rider group that showed they had early pace way too hot for the rest of the grid. Andrea Dovizioso (Scot Racing Team Honda RS250RW) was one of the six with Alex de Angelis (Aprilia) the other.

Lorenzo was not afraid to head the pack at any stage and by the closing stages of the race it was him and Dani fighting at the front until a backmarker slowed Lorenzo allowing Dani to steal an advantage that he mercilessly worked from 0.245 seconds to the eventual margin of more than a second in the two final laps.

Stoner had to fight to keep de Angelis at bay for third while Aoyama couldn’t show the speed he had in the early part of the race and had to be content with fifth place. Dovi came home sixth.

“That was a difficult race,” said Dani. “It was cooler than on Friday and Saturday and the spots of rain we had made things hard too. But having got into a good rhythm I knew I could go it alone. The team worked really hard this weekend so thanks to them and to all my people.”

Lorenzo said, “We have to be happy with this, Dani’s bike was a bit faster and he was a bit stronger. But every race we get closer to a win and this gives us more motivation to go faster and faster until we achieve a win.”

The World Championship points table shows Dani at the top of the pile on 206 points followed by Stoner with 147 points. Dovi lies third with 134 points with six rounds to go.

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) won the 125cc race from title rival Mika Kallio (KTM) with an imperious display of riding in the closing laps of what looked like it might be a close encounter. Luthi’s winning margin of 3.312 seconds proved otherwise. Marco Simoncelli (Aprilia) was third.

This was Luthi’s second win of the season and it improves his series points lead over Kallio – but not by much. Of more importance was the manner of the win, Luthi leading from the lights and then putting in a series of destructively fast laps in the closing stages to ride clear of his pursuers. Much like Pedrosa.

The young Swiss kept his head together even when light rain threatened to either cause a race stoppage or catch a rider out in terms of assessing available grip. World title contender Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) succumbed to a crash on the penultimate lap that has dented his Championship ambitions.

“That was hard,” said Luthi. “Even before the rain my rear tyre felt like it was almost finished, I was sliding so much towards the end of the race. We thought it would be stopped, but then I just tried to be careful, found myself with a gap, which I could see on one of the big TV trackside TV monitors, and then just kept it going to the finish.”

Fabrizio Lai (Kopron Racing World Honda RS125RW) finished sixth while his team-mate Mike Di Meglio (Kopron Racing World Honda RS125R) managed seventh place.

“I made a good start and the bike was very fast,” said Lai. “But the rear tyre wore out too fast. I took big risks in the fast turns to try and match the pace of the front group but the rain unsettled me a bit when the race wasn’t stopped. Then I had to take more risks to recover all the places again.”

MotoGP:
Max Baggi, Repsol Honda: 3rd: “That is an amazing result and one that makes me very happy for both myself and for all my team. It has been a very hard weekend and I knew that the race would be difficult from the fourth row. The start was not so bad but I was touched in turn one when it was all very close and had a very big slide in fourth gear. I composed myself and tried to get the tyres to warm up – especially the left side where we had troubles all weekend. After a few laps I could see that I can make progress – little by little - and it was possible to move up the field. I start to believe I could move forward and I did. We made the best possible result from our position and I hope this is the started of the more positive part of the season for me. For sure it has not been easy so far. We test here for the next two days and I am very much looking forward to the next races with renewed confidence.”

Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 4th: “I would like to say I’m happy to have done a great race, because it was a real battle and very enjoyable, but I’m still not satisfied. As at Sachsenring, I had to attack hard in the first part of the race and then both the front and rear tyres didn’t allow me to fight at the end. Then not only did I make it up alongside Sete and Valentino, but I couldn’t even finish third. In all honesty the story’s a bit different, because on the last lap I would have been able to challenge for the podium, Sete stopped right in front of me, and I had to close the throttle too. However that’s the way it went, we need to think about the next objective, Motegi, and try to make the most of tomorrow’s test to improve our staying power, because in everything else both the Michelins and the bike are perfect.”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 5th: “That was really a tough race. I got a good start and was right in there early on. Me and Melandri went back and forth a few times. I just didn’t want to let the leaders get away. I found myself running into some of the corners a little too hot and got a little ragged at times. The pace was so fast up front but that’s what you get with the best riders in the world. They dropped the hammer at the start and just went. I tried my hardest to make my boys proud but it didn’t happen this weekend. It was all good experience and I’m happy to be testing here tomorrow because we’re going to have to be in good shape for the rest of the season.”

Marco Melandri, MoviStar Honda: 6th: “This morning we made a few changes to the bike and I set a good pace that gave me confidence for the race. I got a good start and forced my way into the lead group but over the first few laps I started to lose traction. I pushed my rhythm to try and stay near the front but I really punished the front tyre. From there on I just tried to finish the race. The two days of tests will be really important ahead of Motegi.”

Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 9th:“Things pretty much went as I expected today. I honestly don’t know what I have to do to go as fast as the front group, because I’m not saving myself, both in practice and the race I’m giving my all, just as my team do too. It felt like I didn’t have grip on the front and so staying ahead of Tamada, who I had a good duel with, was a slight piece of satisfaction. Ninth is better than in the last two races, but we’re not here for that.”

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 10th: “We tried a new race setting today, but we had more negative sides than the positive ones, and this didn’t allow me to result sufficiently fast. I have many problems in breaking. The bike didn’t seem really stable. Compare to yesterday the grip of the bike was lightly better, but the problem in riding the turns it hasn’t been solved and this has slowed me down. The rear tyre allowed me to be really constant during the all 22 laps, but I still don’t find the maximum confidence to push it more. I hope to find a good confidence in Motegi because I want to try anyhow to remain with the fastest. I really care about that race.”

Sete Gibernau, MoviStar Honda: dnf – fuel starvation: “Another negative day after a weekend in which we have done a great job during qualifying. This morning we had a good rhythm in the warm up with some low 1’58s, a pace I knew would allow me to fight for the win. In the race I wasn’t able to set the same pace and that was the main problem. In the first three laps I first noticed the problem that eventually prevented me from finishing the race, which topped it off. I’m really disappointed because once again I gave it everything I had and it’s a shame to end the race in this way.”

250cc:
Dani Pedrosa, MoviStar Honda: 1st: "We've won another great race in difficult conditions. This morning I had a flashback to last season, when I finished third because of the confusion caused by the rain, and I was worried because the track conditions were nothing like qualifying. It was drizzling throughout the race but the temperature dropped a lot and the tyres wore out a lot quicker than I expected, especially the rear. I took things calmly at the start even though I saw that they were getting away a little because it wasn't the right time to risk anything. In the end I was able to push, keep my pace up even though it was sliding around and set the fastest lap at the end, which is a sign of how well the team have worked."

Jorge Lorenzo, Fortuna Honda: 2nd: “I have to be happy with the result. I wanted to win, of course, but it was not to be today. Pedrosa was very strong and I could not follow him when he passed me. Of course the last lap was frustrating and I was a bit annoyed, but I am not looking for excuses and it would have been very hard to get past him anyway. I’m sure that at the next race I can go even fastest than I did here. That is what keeps me going and looking for that first victory which could arrive at the next race.”

Hiroshi Aoyama, MoviStar Honda: 5th: "At the start I saw that nobody wanted to risk because of the rain so I thought that if nobody wants to try and go then I will. I took the lead a few times but the tyres went off very quickly because of my pace early in the race. They were destroyed by the end of the race but I did what I could. Tomorrow we'll stay here to test and we'll try and improve the bike so that we head to Motegi with a winning attitude and ready to give it everything. I would really like to win my home race."

Andrea Dovizioso, Scot Honda: 6th: “My fault: I used an helmet for dry conditions but it rained and the screen misted up. I couldn’t see very well and I did not feel safe. After Pedrosa overtook me I opened the screen and it was better but it wasn’t possible to recover the gap from him. All the riders were in the same critical conditions but I know, I have to improve in various aspects”.

Jakub Smrz, Molenaar Honda: 11th: “I am pleased with my race and 11th place I really needed that result. The bike was perfect today. I got 11th because West made a mistake at the last chicane that allowed me to get passed him.
West is very good on the brakes and at the chicane he moved his line to block me but left his braking way too late and ran wide. ”

Alex Debon, Wurth Honda BQR: 13th: “We need new material with what we have it is not possible to go faster today. I raced as hard as I could until the front tyre went off. After that every time I pushed hard the front end turned in I would have crashed if I tried any harder. I’m disappointed because I know I could have taken a better result. ”

Radomil Rous, Wurth Honda BQR: 14th.: “I had some problems getting off the start but I was good over the first three laps and got up to 18th I think. Then I just raced to catch the riders I front and passed a few. The engine as not as good today as in qualifying but I am happy. Two points is two points won.”

Yuki Takahashi, Scot Honda: dnf – crash: “I started well and I recovered some positions but at the seventh corner I lost the front and I crashed out. Now my right arm hurts. I’m disappointed I expected to make a good race.”

Hector Barbera, Fortuna Honda: dnf – crash: ”I was very motivated because I had made a good start and had managed to climb from ninth to fifth place. I knew I wasn’t going to be right at the front today and that relaxed me for the start which helped me get away well and I was looking to just enjoy the race. But going into a corner Takahashi fell and took out my front wheel which meant I could not avoid crashing. It’s a shame because luck seems to be going against me at the moment. I am having a difficult time and am not achieving any of the objectives I have set myself. I worked very hard during the holidays and now we have another twelve days before the next race and I will have to work with the same intensity.

Dirk Heidolf, Kiefer Castrol Honda: dnf – crash.: “About 9-10 laps from the finish I started to have gear shifting problems I had to roll the throttle to change gear. That cost me a few meters with every gear change. I ended up fighting with Debon for 13th place and it was hard work with my gearbox problem I was pushing too hard. Then at the last corner we almost touched and I ran off the track. I am very disappointed with my race.”

125cc:
Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda: 1st: “I am very, very happy with my win today. I got a good start and was first into the first corner then Lai went passed me. My plan had been to get ahead and go away but I when I passed Lai it was too late and the group caught us. Then I tried again to run away from them and but it was only when the rain started to fall that I managed to do it. The rain caused a little confusion the downhill right hand corner was very wet and I went through one gear lower than normal. Then at the final left right both wheels were drifting across the track I was hanging on knee on the road praying I would stay on. I took the most risks and won the race.”

Fabrizio Lai, Kopron Racing World Honda: 6th: “I made a good start and the bike was very fast but the rear tyre wore out too quickly: in the fast corners I took too many risks and I preferred to slow down. I tried to keep the same pace as the front group but on a couple of occasion I nearly crash out. With three laps to go it began to rain but the race has not been interrupted. I decided to take some risks on the wet track and recover positions from 11th, because to finish in that position or not arrive at the finish is quite the same.

Mike, Talmacsi and I were very fast and the risks we took have been rewarded. I don’t know if the race had to be interrupt… I don’t want to polemize but now I’m happy!”.

Mike Di Meglio, Kopron Racing World Honda: 7th: : “During the last lap Fabrizio and I decided to take risks and try to recover as many positions as we could. It was a good decision but the yellow flags prevented us to make other overtaking moves. My bike was very fast but I had some cyclistic problems (too hard rear). It wasn’t possible to maintain the best line because when I pushed harder the bike slid back”.

Alvaro Bautista, Seedorf RC3 Tiempo Holidays Honda: 12th: “It has been a difficult race. I started from a rear position, and in the opening laps I couldn’t overtake other riders. Honestly I don’t feel real comfortable in this track, and I have had some difficulties to ride well. At the end of the race I have prefered not to risk too much because it had began to rain and I was having problems with the rear tyre, and I thought it was better not repeating my Donington crash out. It’s a hard situation because the team and me are working really hard and with another aim. But we will continue fighting in very race to try to be in the top”.

Aleix Espargaro, Seedorf RC3 Tiempo Holidays Honda: 13th: “We have scored some points, although I think this could have been a more beautiful race and that I could have finish in a better position. But looking back the weekend and all the engine problems we have had I think at the end we have been able to do a good race. The engine worked better than yesterday, but not in the best condition. I have had problems with the rear tyre from the second part of the race, and that’s why I began to lose some positions.
Let’s see if we can do it better in the practice days as we did it in Germany because I think I can be soon near the top positions”.

Sandro Cortese, Kiefer Boss Castrol Honda: 14th: “Not so bad I suppose. I got a good start and was in 10th place after one lap. I thought I could run with them and hold my position. I was in a group with Iannone, Bautista and Espargaro and it was tough. We were bumping and banging fairings on every lap. The bike was very good today, the engine very good. I ended up 14th and am a little disappointed with that.”

Alexis Masbou, Ajo Motorsport Honda: dnf – crash: “Lai passed me then suddenly slowed. I moved to miss him, I don’t understand why Lai slowed so much at that point. Then somebody hit me and I was off. I now know it was Koyama san. Pity because it as not really his fault.”

Tomoyoshi Koyama, Ajo Motorsport Honda: dnf – crash: “From my position I saw Lai pass Alexis then brake very hard. Alexis managed to miss him but I hit Lai and then I think Ranseder hit me and we crashed. Unfortunately my bike hit Alexis and brought him down. A real pity because we were in good positions and the bike was really good today. ”

Toshihisa Kuzuhara, Angaia Racing Honda: dns: Kuzuhara crashed in practice sustaining a shoulder injury that prevented him from starting in the race.

Raymond Schouten, Molenaar Honda: dnf – technical problem: “We don’t know what the problem is yet but I think it has something to do with the shifter. Right from the start the engine was spluttering a little ad eventually stopped. It’s very frustrating because the bike was great in qualifying.”