Czech GP. Previous info

Countdown started for the Repsol riders in the 2002 World Championship
With seven races left, Rossi leads the MotoGP class, Nieto is second in the 250, and Pedrosa third in the 125.
 The 2002 World Championship gets back into action with the arrival of the Czech Grand Prix in Brno this weekend. A Championship, which is offering a lot of possibilities for the Repsol riders. In the MotoGP, the riders of the Repsol Honda Team are setting the example, holding both leading positions of the overall classification. Rossi has at the moment an advantage of 96 points over his team-mate Ukawa, while the Japanese rider has a credit of 15 points over the third classified, the Italian Biaggi. Despite the decrease of the distance between Ukawa and the third classified, the Repsol rider feels confident due to the fact that he missed the race in England because of an injury. In the 250cc, the fight for the leadership between Marco Melandri and Fonsi Nieto will obviously continue. After a well deserved rest, both riders arrive fit and longing for new battles. The twenty-five points separating them in the overall classification will be the starting point for this second half of the Championship. And while Melandri and Nieto will be fighting for the title, the Spanish riders team-mate, his fellow countryman, Toni Elias, will go on making his way in his new class. Fifth in the overall classification, and only two points away from the immediately preceding rider, the Italian Battaini, Elias main target for the rest of the season will be to jump up to the fourth position of the standings, right behind the three favourites for the title, Melandri, Nieto and Rolfo, as well as trying to get on the podium. Already recovered from the hand injury suffered during the German Grand Prix, Elias is looking forward to getting back to the Championship action.  And in the minor category, Alberto Puigs pupils will be looking for new successes. Dani Pedrosa is still immersed in his personal fight for the leadership in the overall classification, with Poggiali twenty points ahead and a new guest in the battle, the Frenchman Arnaud Vincent. His team-mate Joan Olivé, improving as the season moves on, will try to repeat his latest results and get back on the podium as soon as possible.