Cataluña GP. Race

Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa on the top of the podium in Cataluña
This weekend has been a new show of the Repsol Honda MotoGP team’s strength. After performing perfect practices, with both riders on the front row of the grid, the race crowned the excellent results with both riders on the podium. New victory for Valentino Rossi in MotoGP, the fifth of six possible wins, and second place for Tohru Ukawa, who became the toughest rival of the Italian until the last lap of the race. One of the highlights of this weekend has been the clear improvement of both official Yamaha 4-stroke bikes, with an aggressive Carlos Checa fighting for the first position with the riders of the Repsol Honda team for more than half of the race. In the 250cc, Fonsi hasn’t been able to offer his fans a new victory at home. Problems with the front tyre set Fonsi back, who saw himself without any possibilities to keep the pace of Marco Melandri, eventual winner of the Gran Premi de Catalunya in the 250cc category. His team mate Toni Elias had a hard race as well, taking the tenth final place. Traction and tyre problems were the cause of his backward position. In the 125cc both of Alberto Puig’s pupils have made a good race this morning. Daniel Pedrosa has been fighting for the victory until the last lap, having to resign himself with the second final position after being overtaken by the Gilera rider Manuel Poggiali right at the finish line. His team mate Joan Olivé has made his best race of the season, finishing sixth.