Dutch GP. Race. Driver´s comments

Repsol on the three podiums of the Dutch GP
The Dutch Grand Prix, held today at the circuit of Assen, has turned into a real party for the Repsol riders. In the MotoGP, Valentino has dominated the race with ease from start to finish. After a small group of riders gathered after the start, Alex Barros and Valentino Rossi set off after a couple of rounds taking the lead of the race. While Ukawa was fighting for the third place with the Yamaha riders Biaggi and Checa, Rossi spend the time waiting behind Barros until the end of the race, when he decided to take the lead and the chequered flag as the winner. Ukawa, who had to fight hard against Checa for the third place during the last lap, leaving Biaggi behind, touched the Yamaha rider in the chicane entering the finish straight and suffered a light crash. Fortunately the Repsol rider was able to rejoin the race and finished fifth. In the 250cc the Repsol riders have had different luck today. While Toni Elias was on his way to get his fist podium in Assen – his lucky circuit where he got his first podium last year in the 125cc – Fonsi Nieto had problems with the engine, which set him back to a final fifth position. This result, and Marco Melandri’s victory have taken Fonsi to the second place in the overall classification, while the Italian rider is now leading the category with an advantage of eight points over the Spaniard. The 125cc have also been extremely exciting in this Grand Prix. Both of Alberto Puig’s pupils have had an excellent performance today. The circuit of Assen will have a very special place in Dani Pedrosa’s memory, since he managed to take the first victory of his sports career in the World Championship. For his team-mate Joan Olivé, this race will also be a race he will never forget. Starting from the third row of the grid, with the twelfth fastest time after practice, Olivé made a great start, putting himself on the second position right behind Pedrosa. After loosing some positions along the race and a very exciting race finish, he was able to take the third final position.