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2007-04-22 Mixed feelings in Honda after Istanbul
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 A dramatic MotoGP race unfolded in front of a 40,000 crowd here at Istanbul Park with Casey Stoner (Ducati) winning from Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) with Loris Capirossi (Ducati) third. But a first lap incident took Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) out of the race.
Elias started from 10th on the grid after a mediocre qualifying performance, but his race efforts were huge and he willed himself through the field to the podium although he could not catch the runaway Stoner.
In sunny conditions with negligible wind, 23 degrees ambient temperature and the track gradually warming up throughout the day to 38 degrees, the conditions were set for a full throttle encounter over 22-laps of this demanding 5.430km track.
Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who struggled to reach the flag in tenth at the end, got the holeshot from the lights and led the pack into the tricky off-camber, downhill left that is turn one. His team-mate Colin Edwards was in close pursuit along with Stoner and Capirossi.
But there was to be drama on this opening lap. First leader Rossi ran wide on the exit of the high-speed uphill turn 11 slipping down the order to fifth. But behind him into the final three-turn complex, chaos ensued as Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki) clipped Pedrosa’s front wheel and then cannoned into Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) whose machine then took out Edwards. No rider was seriously hurt, but all except Vermeulen were out of contention.
Stoner was away. He set a fastest lap on lap four and by lap seven he had a 1.4 second lead over his team-mate Capirossi, with Rossi in third, Elias already up to fourth, John Hopkins (Suzuki) fifth, Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda RC212V) sixth and reigning World Champion Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V) seventh.
Rossi shifted past Capirossi on lap nine and Toni did likewise. On the following lap Elias squeezed past Rossi into the final complex as Capirossi slid back through the order before recovering his composure from this mid-race onslaught to climb back to third in the closing laps.
It was Rossi who was in the biggest trouble. The Italian was overhauled by such unlikely candidates as Randy de Puniet (Kawasaki) and Alex Hofmann (Ducati) and he was clearly in severe difficulties on his Yamaha.
The unstoppable Stoner was six seconds ahead of Elias in the final laps and Toni himself was comfortably clear of the scrap for third intensifying between Capirossi, Alex Barros (Ducati), Marco Melandri and Hopkins. Barros got his nose ahead of Capirossi on the final lap exiting turn 11 but the dogged Capirossi out-braked him into the complex to emerge from the final turn ahead.
Melandri had to be happy with fifth after a wretched qualifying session, while Nicky rode with the will of a World Champion to secure seventh after a troubled weekend. But it will be young guns Stoner and Elias who will derive the most satisfaction from this episode.
Toni Elias, 2nd
It was like a 125 race with some unbelievable passes being made. I just concentrated on getting as perfect a start as I could and then I was stuck behind Hopkins too long. Once I got past him I took Rossi but couldn’t challenge for the lead because Casey was so fast. I just tried to maintain my position. Thanks to the team and Bridgestone for their faith in me. I feel mature and confident and I know that I can improve even more as a rider.
Marco Melandri, 5th
I got a good start but lost time behind Hopkins but then I got into a good pace and began to fight for the podium with Capirossi and Barros but then the bike started to vibrate and that slowed me down. But thanks to the team and Bridgestone – the tyres were fantastic.
Nicky Hayden, 7th
My start was decent. I made a couple of passes into turn 11 and on lap four I was enjoying the battle and we were having fun. At the end of the race I though I could steal a podium except after halfway I was having real trouble at the fast right-hander. Early in the race it was my best corner. But at the end I just couldn’t get through it. I gave it one last go on the final lap but I has a big moment and barely stayed on.
Dani Pedrosa, DNF
A shame about the crash because I had a good chance of a good result. But this track is not lucky for me. My start was not so good, I had a bit of wheelspin off the line and then got caught in a large group on lap one. When I was braking on the final section I got hit on the inside and went down. I have a bit of pain in my neck and my chest but I should be OK for China.
Carlos Checa, 12th
That was a very difficult race – harder than I anticipated. I didn’t have a good feeling from the engine or the front-end and in turn 11 I almost crashed which was quite scary. I just decided to finish with no risk.
Shinya Nakano, 13th
My start was OK, but when the big accident happened I was trying to avoid getting caught up in it and then lost 10th place. I knew it was going to be a hard race from then on. We suffered again from a lack of feeling from the front-end of the bike, but at least we got some points and that was one of my targets from this weekend. Our problems have come from a combination of things, but I know Honda and Michelin will work hard together with our team and we’re hopeful of better results in races to come.
Kenny Roberts, 16th
It felt like the rear tyre went flat. It didn’t feel right on the sighting lap and I thought it might come back, but it never did. I was nervous about the problem and with that type of feeling you can’t be careful enough. And in the last five laps I picked up a vibration which the guys will check out.
The World Championship table is headed by Stoner on 61 points from Rossi on 51 with Dani still at the sharp end with 36 points to Elias’s 35 in fourth. Marco Melandri has 30 points.
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