| Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris
Capirossi scored a thrilling second-place finish in today's
searing-hot Marlboro Malaysian Grand Prix after a spectacular duel
with World Champion Valentino Rossi. Team-mate Sete Gibernau
completed a great day for the team, finishing fifth in his first
race for seven weeks.
Capirossi's stunning ride was his
sixth top-three finish of the year and moved him to fourth in the
title chase, 43 points behind leader Nicky Hayden. Starting from the
front row of the grid after two days of hard work, the Italian was
third after the first lap, moved into the lead on lap three and then
settled into an enthralling contest with Rossi, the pair swapping
places time and again, the lead changing for the last time on the
last lap. Capirossi ended the race 0.849 seconds down on Rossi,
having established a new lap record on lap ten.
Gibernau hadn't raced since
undergoing further surgery in late July to the left collarbone he
broke in June. He came back in fine style, qualifying sixth and
finishing just nine seconds behind the race winner.
LORIS CAPIROSSI, finished 2nd, 4th
overall (171 points)
"The whole weekend has been great for us. At the start I overtook a
few guys, took the lead and tried to go away but realised I
couldn't. When Valentino overtook me the first time, then Dani, it
was because I'd opened the gas too early and lost some grip. But I
wasn't worried because I knew my rhythm was good. The battle with
Valentino was great, we overtook each other many times but always in
a correct manner. It was easy to win or lose this race, no one could
say who was going to win before the last corner, but I think a
battle like this is so good for the sport. My problem wasn't the
last corner, it was the one before where I had a bit too much spin
on the exit. Now I am ready for the last four races, I know the bike
and tyres are good and I know I am strong enough to fight with
Valentino. But I'm not thinking about the championship, I will just
do my best and then we will count the points. I am really looking
forward to Phillip Island, though yesterday it was only eight
degrees there..."
SETE GIBERNAU, finished 5th, 11th
overall (69 points)
"That was a perfect return. Once again I'd like to thank everyone
for an outstanding job, without them I could never have done what I
did today. The team, the guys back home and Bridgestone gave me a
great bike and great support, making my life as easy as it could be
coming back from an injury. I wasn't as aggressive as I should've
been during the first laps, just because I've been back home for two
months, but I think we needed to do a race like this to come back.
I'm very pleased because I regained a good feeling with the bike and
I was up there with the guys who are fighting for the championship,
that's what we needed. I was a bit worried about the injury, I was
thinking ‘oh man, what's going to happen?' but it reacted well. I
think the bone is pretty good shape, so all credit to my physical
trainer Dani Sune and to the doctors back home. The only thing I
don't have right now is full strength. Now I'm looking forward to
Phillip Island."
LIVIO SUPPO, Ducati MotoGP project
manager
"That was a great race! We must be happy because Loris rode
brilliantly and Sete made a fantastic comeback, finishing very close
to the leaders. The bike worked very well here, the tyres too, so
thanks to Bridgestone, and also to Shell Advance whose input is
especially vital in the extreme conditions we experience here." |
