YRC News
|
MotoGP : Rossi takes second successive MotoGP title for Yamaha
Round: 13 - Malaysian MotoGP
Circuit: Sepang
Date: 25 September 2005
Crowd: 50000
Temp: 40ēC
Weather: Dry
Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi clinched the MotoGP World
Championship for the fifth successive season after taking second place in the
Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang today. Rossi became only the third rider in
history to win the premier-class title on five occasions, emulating the
achievements of Mick Doohan and Giacomo Agostini and adding to his championships
in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Now a seven-time World Champion, Rossi marked
the achievement by wearing a t-shirt bearing the famous number 7 worn by the
legendary Barry Sheene and launching into a riotous celebration with his fan
club, dressed as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to commemorate the occasion.
The Italian secured the championship with four races to spare thanks largely to
the swift action of his mechanics, who resolved a series of tyre and set-up
problems during this morning's warm-up session and allowed him to charge from
seventh on the grid to a sensational second place behind eventual winner Loris
Capirossi (Ducati). Rossi's Gauloises Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards finished in
tenth place after struggling with front set-up problems all weekend.
Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team), 2nd
"I am very happy because I gave more than 100% in the race today. We have been
in trouble all weekend and this morning I wasn't sure if I would finish on the
podium. But I got a good start and rode a clever race whilst other riders seemed
nervous and made mistakes. Little by little I moved to the front and I felt
comfortable with the bike. I passed Hayden and then swapped positions with
Capirossi a couple of times, but in the last seven laps he changed gear and I
couldn't go with him. Anyway, I am World Champion for the seventh time, which is
incredible! Last year was a bit of a surprise but this time everybody was out to
beat me. I want to thank all my mechanics, Jerry, the engineers. everybody who
works for Yamaha!"
Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team), 10th
"We made the same mistake as we did in the first round at Jerez, but in reverse.
This morning we went to a different construction front tyre and we fixed the
problem we had, but then the balance of the bike wasn't right and we didn't have
time to sort it out. The rear was sitting way too low and started to go quite
early in the race. From then on it was a case of survival. At least we know
where we went wrong and I'm really looking forward to Qatar because I had a
great race there. I want to say congratulations to Valentino because he's done
an awesome job this year."
Jeremy Burgess - Rossi's Crew Chief
"Obviously the situation in Motegi meant that the celebrations were put off for
a week but now we can celebrate. It has been a difficult weekend for all the
teams, including ourselves, but we made a few changes in the warm-up and managed
to give Valentino a bike that we knew could run for the podium. The season
started with exactly the bike that we wanted and Yamaha has done everything we
asked for. To win nine out of thirteen races is an excellent achievement by
everybody and we have a great package. Good rider, good bike, good team. what
more could you ask for?"
Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 11th
"It was a very tough race. We had problems with the front end, which did not let
me ride comfortably as I did not have the grip I wanted. It's a bit strange, as
we did not have any problems for the first two days. Now we'll have to work hard
to find a solution in the next few days. Despite everything we have worked well
this weekend and must keep heading in this direction."
Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team), 15th
"I did not feel too good yesterday and did not sleep well at all. I had a bad
start today and it took a while to find my rhythm. There are still four races
left at circuits that I like and I hope to get some good results and enjoy
myself. If I don't feel confident on the bike then it makes it difficult for me,
but I will keep on fighting."
Race classification MotoGP
Round: 13 - Malaysian MotoGP
Circuit: Sepang
Circuit Length: 5548m
Lap Record: 2' 2.993 (Nicky Hayden, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 2' 1.731 (Loris Capirossi, 2005)
Race: 21 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 L. Capirossi Ducati ITA 43'27.523
2 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA +1.999
3 C. Checa Ducati ESP +2.069
4 N. Hayden Honda USA +9.227
5 M. Melandri Honda ITA +15.886
6 M. Biaggi Honda ITA +16.826
7 K. Roberts Suzuki USA +17.249
8 A. Barros Honda BRA +18.221
9 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA +20.125
10 C. Edwards Yamaha USA +22.275
11 T. Elias Yamaha ESP +29.856
12 M. Tamada Honda JPN +51.672
13 R. Rolfo Ducati ITA +1' 5.365
14 S. Byrne Honda GBR +1'19.106
15 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP +1'19.356
16 F. Battaini Blata WCM ITA +1'55.882
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 N. Hayden Honda USA 2' 2.993
Championship standings MotoGP
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 281
2 Max Biaggi Honda ITA 159
3 Loris Capirossi Ducati ITA 142
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 139
5 Marco Melandri Honda ITA 137
6 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 134
7 Alex Barros Honda BRA 122
8 Sete Gibernau Honda ESP 115
9 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 88
10 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki JPN 69
11 Makato Tamada Honda JPN 68
12 Kenny Roberts Suzuki USA 58
13 Troy Bayliss Honda AUS 54
14 John Hopkins Suzuki USA 53
15 Toni Elias Yamaha ESP 43
16 Ruben Xaus Yamaha ESP 43
Manufacturers standings MotoGP
Pos.Manufacturer Points
1 Yamaha 295
2 Honda 251
3 Ducati 152
4 Kawasaki 97
5 Suzuki 85
6 Blata WCM 10
7 Proton KR 1
8 Moriwaki 1
Team standings MotoGP
Pos.Team Points
1 Gauloises Yamaha Team 420
2 Repsol Honda Team 293
3 Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 252
4 Ducati Marlboro Team 230
5 Honda Camel 178
6 Kawasaki Racing Team 116
7 Team Suzuki MotoGP 111
8 Fortuna Yamaha Team 90
9 Konica Minolta Honda 80
10 D'Antin MotoGP 18
11 Blata WCM 10
12 Team Roberts KR 1
|