Catalunya GP. Races. Driver´s comments

Pedrosa: ‘ I’m very happy, I couldn’t ask for more, I won in front of the Spanish fans’.
MotoGP. Valentino Rossi, 1.45´472 sec, 2nd: ‘I don’t know if I’m more happy for the last part of the race, or more angry for the big mistake in the middle. At the beginning I go in the front – but it’s not possible to push 100%. I go very slow and wait for the others. I had very much problem with the tyres. Anyway I push hard and make a little gap from the others and Loris comes with me. I try, but it is not possible to go faster. I made a little mistake and went wide. Loris overtook me and when I arrive at turn 4 I make a big mistake and arrive too fast. When I open my eyes I see the pipe of the Ducati and I need to go wide. Then there is not much time at the end so I try 120%. For me it was great fun – we make a lap record and it was possible to arrive in second. It’s good for the championship.’MotoGP. Nicky Hayden, 1.46´301 sec, 9th: ‘I knew I had to get a good start from fifth row and was pretty happy to be up to 10th at the end of the first lap. I picked up a few places and managed to make my way forward. Of course I would have liked to have done a little bit better but I guess I should be pretty happy with the result because it was a pretty difficult weekend. With not so many laps to go Tamada and Barros got by that was not so good. I got some more points and I’m learnin’ lots. I’m looking forward to the next race already.’250. Fonsi Nieto, 1.48´485 sec, 2nd: ‘I made a good start and I managed to keep the rhythm with De Puniet and Poggiali, but at mid-race I began having problems with the front tyre and I was just about to crash two or three times. I was convinced that I was going to win today, but a mistake on my team’s board made me think that there was still one lap left. I was waiting for passing De Puniet, because I was sure that I would be able to take the lead on the corner of the stadium and win the race, but such are the races, sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. We’ve made a big step forward in the overall standings but the most important thing right now is to feel 100% OK on the bike race by race. I want to dedicate this race to my technical chief Giovanni Sandi. Thanks to his help we are achieving the results we’ve been expecting’.250. Toni Elias, 1.48´609 sec, 4th: ‘I made a bad start. I’m not used to it, because I usually do good starts. But today it happened and at home. It’s been a shame and I had to pay for it. The bike stalled, I couldn’t move and everybody passed me. I arrived last to the first corner, but I quickly began to make up. Then I had to make a big effort to reach the leading group and once I had reached them, the tyres were worn out. Anyway, today’s fourth place isn’t bad. Besides, Poggiali went out and that favoured us in the overall standings. We’ve made a big step forward and my team has done a great job. I would have liked to win here, at home, but I think that it’s been a great result for my team and me.’250. Sebastián Porto, 1.49´431 sec, 7th: ‘The race has been a bit more difficult than what I thought, I thought that the bike was able to set a better pace, but it gave all it was able to give. We didn’t have a specific problem today, the bike just reached its limit. We have to keep on working to get a more powerful bike and also to try to get a better balance. The tyres wear out too fast and today both Hondas have finished in a back position. It hasn’t been a bad result despite it all, because it’s been a fast race. I’m satisfied for having scored points and for having been the first placed Honda, that’s important. But I’m not happy because I know I can be better placed. We have to keep on working and hope for material from Honda, that’s the first thing we need.’250. Joan Olivé, 1.49´894 sec, 10th: ‘The race went quite good, I had a problem during the start, because I almost hit Toni who was standing still in the middle of the track. Then, at the end of the straight, they pushed me out the line, sending me to the back, but I managed to progress well. I’ve had a good rhythm during the whole race, and that’s important. If it weren’t for the start I would have probably been able to finish in a better position. But the most important of all is the progression, and to feel comfortable on the bike. If we keep on following this line we’ll be able to fight for a better position. I’m also happy for Fonsi, who finished in a good position. Now it’s time to wait for the next race in Assen, a circuit that brings back very good memories to me.’250. Héctor Faubel, 1.50´746 sec, retired: ‘We already knew it would be difficult, but even though I made a good start and managed to be in the leading group, among the top ten. Then the engine made something strange, as it would stop and all the other riders passed me. I caught-up with them again and the engine stalled for the second time. The third time it happened I decided to get back to the garage because the bike wasn’t working as it should. It’s a shame, because I was hoping for a good result in this race.’125. Dani Pedrosa, 1.51´641 sec, 1st: ‘Today the bike didn’t accelerate much and I was scared not to reach the leading pack. But I noticed that I wasn’t the only one whose bike was not working at a 100% and that gave me confidence. I’m very happy, I couldn’t ask for more, I won in front of the Spanish fans. I want to thank the sponsors, Honda and all the people who have come to see me as well as all those who have followed the race from home for their support. And of course thanks to my whole team, because they’ve make a great effort and worked really hard.’125. Pablo Nieto, 1.51´490 sec, 17th: ‘The truth is that I’m not very happy. We were in the leading group today, we could have been fighting for the podium and even for the victory, but I crashed, and it was due to a mistake of mine. The most important thing is that I’m among the leading riders and I’m in very high spirits looking forward to the race in Assen.’125. Héctor Barberá, 1.51´894 sec, retired: ‘The start was great, I was first. Then I fell back, trying to preserve the tyres. I had a softer compound today, the one I had used during the practices that allowed me to be very fast and I had everything more or less under control. But there was a moment when Pablo and Dovizioso braked much earlier than me. I couldn’t control the bike and tried to pass them through the outside, I hit Dovizioso and we both crashed. The truth is that I’m happy, not completely because I would have liked to finish among the top five. If I would have finish the race I would probably have made it. But anyway, I’m happy because now I’m confident that I’m able to be in the front in all races.’