Repsol riders start World Championship among the best.
Dani Pedrosa and Sebastián Porto, stars of the 250cc race. No protagonism in MotoGP, Hayden crashed and Biaggi seventh.
Good and bad for the Repsol riders in a spectacular Spanish Grand Prix staged in Jerez under splendid weather but strong gusts of wind causing a lot of trouble to the riders. Marco Simoncelli in the 125cc, Dani Pedrosa in the 250cc and Valentino Rossi in MotoGP were the winners of a day, where the Repsol riders dominated the 250cc class thanks to Dani Pedrosa and Sebastián Porto. Less luck for Hayden and Biaggi in MotoGP. The North American rider was not able to conclude a brilliant performance due to a crash five laps before the end of the race whilst fighting for the second place. Biaggi, who started from the back, managed to finish seventh.
It’s been an exciting GP from the first lap of the 125cc to the last of the MotoGP and in the minor class, the fans, who once again filled the circuit of Jerez, enjoyed a grouped race with constant changes in the leading places and the final victory of the Italian rider Simoncelli with excellent performances of Mika Kallio, Fabrizio Lai and Pablo Nieto, who crashed while fighting for the podium. Héctor Faubel, Repsol rider, was the best Spanish rider finishing seventh.
Dani Pedrosa was the overall protagonist of the 250cc race. The current world champion took the lead of the race from the start and kept it until the chequered flag. Sebastián Porto was his most tenacious rival and although he tried to fight for the lead in the first third of the race, mechanical problems forced him to slow down and ride most part of the race on a comfortable second place. His teammate Randy de Puniet crashed on lap ten loosing the chances to get on the podium. Hiroshi Aoyama crashed as well after being pushed off the track by Héctor Barberá. Behind Pedrosa, who took his first victory in Jerez, and Porto, Italian rider de Angelis came in third.
Nicky Hayden shone in the MotoGP race and although a crash forced him to retire, he proved that he is capable of following the pace of Sete Gibernau and Valentino Rossi, who dominated the race with a spectacular duel. The North American who was third during a large part of the GP, tried to brake later into the corner before the main straight, eager to move up to second, and crashed. He’ll leave Jerez with mixed feelings. The satisfaction of being clearly in the top group and the sadness of having lost a podium that he had almost sure. Biaggi, who started from the back, recovered positions until finishing seventh.The next round of the World Championship will be the GP of Portugal in Estoril next weekend.
Repsol rider´s comments:
MotoGP. Nicky Hayden,
not classified:
‘Just so frustrated! Most of the weekend we had been going real well. I gotta’ good start and was right there. The boys pulled a bit of a gap but I managed to close it up again. It all felt pretty comfortable really. I had a good lead on fourth but I was pushing and in the end crashed on the brakes at the last corner. I’m so disappointed. We all worked so hard over the winter and to be so close at the first race and get no points is hard. My thumb’s a bit of a worry. I need to get it checked out.’
MotoGP. Max Biaggi
7th, 46’13.774:
‘This is not a GP to forget about: this is a GP to remember very well . It’s not the situation to describe my race. In Italy we say that you don’t have to move the knife inside the scar. I don’t want to do it. From the place we started our result could have been much worse. I’m not even satisfied with my coming back. But I’m serene, because I know I gave the best until the chequered flag. Anything more could not be possible. With my riding condition it’s already a result that I didn’t fall. I leave with a big question mark on my shoulder, heavy like rock. Not only for me, I hope.’
250. Dani Pedrosa
1st, 45’36.679:
‘Winning in Jerez was a challenge for us and we made it. It’s been fantastic to count on the support of the fans and to hear their supporting shouts during the last two laps. I’m very happy because starting the season here was quite complicated due to the pressure, and the wind didn’t make it easy either. It’s been a good way to start the World Championship and I want to thank the team for the great work they’ve done; the bike worked perfectly well’.
250. Randy De Puniet,
crashed:
‘I wanted to keep up with Porto’s pace in order not to stay back from the top and open a gap to the rest of the group but I crashed and it hasn’t been possible. I was pushing too hard and lost the front tyre braking for the corner at the end of the straight; but, such are races. There is still a lot of Championship left, but I would have liked to get a good result in this first race of the year, because starting like this isn’t very much satisfying.’
250.Sebastián Porto
2nd, 45’38.815:
‘I’m not happy because I would have liked to win but I have to be satisfied with this result. It’s been a difficult weekend, especially due to the wind. In addition, we had a problem yesterday that made us loose some time during the second qualifying practice. I managed to stay behind Dani until halfway the race, but in the end I lacked a bit of pace and he opened a gap. The result isn’t bad, because we have to consider that this is the start of the season and the most important is to score as many points as possible, always thinking about the Championship. The Spanish fans are incredible. You could see the flags waving and loads of people supporting us. I’m happy because I’d never got a good result on this track and it isn’t bad for the start of the season. ‘
125. Héctor Faubel
7th, 42’42.550:
‘I was quite nervous at the start, because I knew that I had the chance to do a good job. I made a strong start and kept myself in the leading group until I touched with Pasini. I lost a lot of time with the incident and lost the group in addition to deforming the rear wheel. It’s been a good start, but I know that we can do much better. Let’s see if we’re luckier in Estoril. The Spanish fans have proven once again to be the best of the world.’
