Mattia Pasini, Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi, winners at the Circuit de Catalunya.
Hayden and Biaggi finish 5th and 6th in MotoGP. Porto and Faubel retire.
The three winners have clearly dominated in their respective classes in a race day celebrated in front of 105.000 spectators in the Circuit de Catalunya. The Repsol riders were not able to achieve the expected aims and only Dani Pedrosa was able to get on the winners’ of the winners.
Nicky Hayden, however, has been fighting until the last third of the race for a place on the MotoGP podium. After a close initial fight with a group of up to five riders, Gibernau and Rossi opened a gap, while the main interest of the race was centred in the fight between Melandri, Barros and Hayden for the third place. A bit further in the back Max Biaggi tried hard to join the front group but finally had to settle for sixth. Hayden who tried to catch-up with Rossi and Gibernau finally had to give in, finishing fifth. The Repsol Honda Team will stay at the Circuit de Catalunya for an additional day and will be testing tomorrow in order to get ready for the next race, the Dutch GP.
The 250cc race was especially contended, including several crashes, and Dani Pedrosa waited until the eleventh lap to take the lead, which he didn’t leave until the end of the race, winning with an advantage of five seconds over Stoner. Porto and De Puniet were forced to leave the fight for the victory very early. The Argentinean crashed in the second lap and the Frenchman in the third, although he managed to rejoin the race finishing sixth. Barberá, Pedrosa, Lorenzo and De Angelis were fighting for the leadership until De Angelis and Lorenzo crashed and the World Champion sentenced the race.Same tendency in the 125cc, a race won by the Italian Pasini with a clear advantage of nine seconds over Simoncelli. The Italian is the new leader of the Championship and Héctor Faubel, with little luck, had to retire due to a breakdown ten laps before the end of the race.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden.
5th place:
The whole race was a bit of a dog fight really. We were really going at it. I got a good start and made a few overtakes stick in the opening laps. I got up to third and wasnt that far behind the leaders when I made my fastest lap of the race trying to close the gap. Then Melandri came past with a big move that cost me time. I got back to third and just tried to get a steady rythmn and pull away. The last few laps were amazing we were all just back and forth – we were just duking it out. I so wanted that podium but it just wasnt to be. Its fruntrating to have such a good overall weekend and go away with a fifth. On the positive side the bike went well, the Michelins hung on well and my boys did a great job.
Max Biaggi.
6th place:
It went bad. We rode a different bike from the one we used at Mugello, with a set-up meant to improve braking. In those sections the feeling was good but it really worsened handling and cornering, with consequent problems for the tires life. I could never take part in the game and it makes me very sad. I look to the next Assen Grand Prix knowing that its not going to be easy, but we must push harder.
250. Dani Pedrosa
1st, 4129.428:
I didnt make a good start; its been my mistake. I was very nervous, because at the start it seemed that the first gear had not entered well. The revs were very high and I let the clutch go too fast, but I was able to recover and fortunately the engine didnt stall. I was scared that any other rider might hit me from the back. I was very careful during the two first corners; I was still a bit excited and there were many of us in the front. From the second lap the formation became stable and I calmed down. De Puniet pushed hard and the group started to stretch because the rest of us were not being as fast as we could. I decided to push and put myself fourth as soon as I could, to set my own rhythm. Lorenzo was being the fastest, especially during practice, thats why I had to watch him. I dont know what happened and Im very sorry because he got hurt. I know what it means to get hurt and I hope hell recover soon, as well as Miralles. All riders of all classes, me included, had problems with the front end during the weekend. You needed to find the best position on the bike during the race in order to minimise them. Now Im very happy, but you never know what can happen at the next race, so we have to be very careful and stay focussed to keep and if possible increase the gap to our rivals.
250. Randy De Puniet
6th, 4202.663:
I am very annoyed because I made a good start and was in the lead and do not know what happened when I fell. This weekend I have fallen three times on the front end and I dont know why so there must be a problem. Its a shame because I could have won here, but its not all bad as I did manage to keep the bike going and rejoin the race. I moved up bit by bit and in the end took sixth. I have won here before but once again luck was not on our side..
250.Sebastián Porto,
not classified:
When I made it back to the box I was disorientated and knew I had fallen but did not know why. I hit my head and ankle but I am not too bad. Porto is currently in the Mobile Clinic where Doctor Costa is giving him a complete check-up.
125 Héctor Faubel,
not classified:
I started well and got in the lead group but noticed when I got behind kallio in the main straight that I was not running as well as him and when I slowed down a bit the bike stopped. I dont know what is happening but I have been unable to score points in a few races now without it being my fault. The team is also very annoyed at what is going on. Everything seems to be against us. I was hoping to do better at my home race.
Standings:
125
- M.Pasini (Aprilia) 41.15.125
- M.Simoncelli (Aprilia) 41.24.159
- M.Kallio (KTM) 41.27.533
- G.Talmacsi (KTM) 41.33.381
- T.Koyama (Honda) 41.33.565
- S.Gadea (Aprilia) 41.53.764
World Championship
- M.Pasini, 84 puntos.
- T.Luthi, 83.
- M.Kallio, 82.
- G.Talmacsi, 75.
- M.Simoncelli, 72.
10. H.Faubel, 30.
13. S.Gadea, 23.
250
- D.Pedrosa (Honda) 41.29.428
- C.Stoner (Aprilia) 41.35.065
- A.Dovizioso (Honda) 41.40.025
- H.Aoyama (Honda) 41.47.066
- S.Corsi (Aprilia) 41.48.927
World Championship
- D.Pedrosa, 123 puntos.
- C.Stoner, 96.
- A.Dovizioso, 93.
- H.Aoyama, 58.
- A. de Angelis, 56.
- S.Porto, 49.
- R. de Puniet, 46
MotoGP
- V.Rossi (Yamaha) 43.16.487
- S.Gibernau (Honda) 43.17.581
- M.Melandri (Honda) 43.24.297
- A.Barros (Honda) 43.24.691
- N.Hayden (Honda) 43.24.760
- M.Biaggi (Honda) 43.28.538
World Championship
- V.Rossi, 145 puntos.
- M.Melandri, 87.
- M.Biaggi, 77.
- S.Gibernau, 73.
- A.Barros, 65.
7. N.Hayden, 47.
