Cataluña GP. Race Drivers´s comments

Nieto: ‘I’m happy to have finished on the podium, because I am still leading the championship’.
Repsol driver´s comments about Cataluña GP resultsValentino Rossi, 1st MotoGP: ‘That was a really hard race for the bike, the tyres and me! I have to say a big thank you to all my team because we changed so many of the settings over the weekend in order to find the best race set-up. I made a good start and followed the others. Checa had a good rhythm. When the others started to go I overtook Biaggi. I then tried to make some laps in the 45’s but it was not possible. I go and Tohru comes with me. I’m a little bit harder in braking and I manage to stay in front. I’m very happy.’Tohru Ukawa, 2nd: ‘I was pleased to qualify on the front row and I knew I had to make a good start. I took the hole shot – the first time this season – and led until Checa over took. I kept second from then on. My tyres are good today and I got a good feeling from the whole bike. We had a good few days qualifying and it paid off in the race. I guess I’m happy with second but obviously not happy that the gap is increasing between Valentino and me. There is a long way to go this season and I will always try my best!’Fonsi Nieto, 3rd 250: ‘I made a good start and I was riding hard. During the first laps I felt very comfortable following Marco closely, but after ten laps the front tyre started to slide worse and worse, and I wasn’t able to match his pace. Gradually he started to pull away from me. From then on I had to change my technique, to control and steer the bike with the back tyre. Maybe it was my error, because all weekend we have been concentrating on rear tyre choice, which was the one that worried us – and we forgot to worry about the front. When Rolfo passed me, we fought over second place. In the last laps, I tried everything to get back ahead, but I made a little mistake that lost me a few metres, and finally it wasn’t possible. In general, I’m happy to have finished on the podium, because I am still leading the championship. Here, I wanted to win, and today I was sure I could fight with Melandri until the last lap. But we still have many races – the important thing is that we are there.’Toni Elías 10th 250 : ‘I am not very satisfied. Here at home I expected something better. I made a good start, and I tried hard, following Fonsi and Melandri, who were setting a fast pace. From the sixth lap, the back tyre started to slide, and it became impossible to maintain the pace and control the bike. Rolfo and de Puniet passed me, and little by little I started to lose positions. Finally, I was tenth. It’s not a good result, but the fans supported me a lot through the whole race, and I really appreciate that. It’s a pity I was not able to repay them with a good result. We worked hard all weekend, but we haven’t arrived where we wanted. We still have a lot of work to do to get the settings right, and I hope that in Assen – a track I really like – things will become better.’Daniel Pedrosa 2nd 125: ‘It’s a pity to lose the race by only 19 thousandths, but in any case I am happy with second. At the beginning, I rode really hard, and when Ui crashed I knew the race would be between Poggiali and me. His bike could accelerate much faster than mine, so I concentrated on not making any mistakes, and on looking to find some advantages that might bring me victory. I tried to my maximum, but it was not to be. I want to thank the fans for their support. In many places round the track I could hear their shouts, and that made me feel very appreciated and cared for.’Joan Olivé 6th 125: ‘I feel very emotional. I really needed this result. I have had bad luck following me for a period. I made a good start, winning 13 positions into the first corner, and little by little I was able to pass a few more riders until I was up to third. After this, the problems I had expected began to happen – tyre wear; and I found myself stuck in a big group of riders with Aprilia bikes. I fought with them until the end. I want to dedicate this result to my family, who have always supported me, and who have suffered a lot for me recently. They also deserve it.’