MCNEWS.COM.AU - The ultimate in motorcycle news MotoGP 2005 - Round 8 - Laguna Seca
Ducati Race Report
July 10th, 2005

 MCNEWS.COM.AU - The ultimate in motorcycle news

Ducati Team rider Loris Capirossi rode to a tough tenth-place finish in front of 57,000 sun-baked fans at Laguna Seca this afternoon, the Italian still not 100 per cent fit after suffering a nasty attack of gastroenteritis earlier in the weekend. Team-mate Carlos Checa slid out of the race on lap nine while challenging for sixth place.

"Congratulations to Loris because he rode a great race considering his physical condition," said Ducati MotoGP project manager Livio Suppo. "He's done a good job and he rode well today, getting very close to the group in front of him. Carlos had a very good first few laps, he was fast and aggressive. It's a pity he fell because he could've had a good result here. Our thanks to Bridgestone, they've done a good job this weekend, and to all our other technical partners, especially Shell Advance."

Struck down by gastroenteritis on Friday, Loris Capirossi missed most of that afternoon's practice session, putting him behind in his efforts to get his Ducati Team Desmosedici set up for this extraordinarily complex racetrack. Starting from 14th on the grid, the former Laguna 250 GP winner completed the first lap in 12th then moved forward steadily, catching the four-man group battling for sixth place. He ended the 32 laps less than four seconds behind sixth-place finisher Troy Bayliss.

"I'm pretty happy with this race, considering the fact that I've been sick all weekend," he said. "I was able to chase a good group, although I wasn't 100 per cent certain about the rear tyre I chose because I didn't have enough time to test it fully during practice. But the tyre was good until the last few laps when I felt a little vibration and eased off a bit. Considering the whole weekend, the race went okay for me."

Carlos Checa rode a storming first few laps at Laguna this afternoon, moving up from eighth place to challenge Bayliss in sixth spot. But on lap nine the Ducati Team rider slid off as he braked for the downhill turn-two hairpin, escaping from the tumble without injury.

"My start and my first few laps weren't so bad," said the Spaniard who rode the seventh quickest lap of the race. "I was catching Bayliss when I lost the front at turn two. It went away as I flicked into the turn, though it seemed like I was using the same braking point and the same line as usual. It's a shame, because I thought we could get some good points here."

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