YRC News
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MotoGP : Double podium joy for Yamaha at Laguna Seca
Round: 8 - Laguna Seca MotoGP
Circuit: Laguna Seca
Date: 10 July 2005
Crowd: 59000
Temp: 23ºC
Weather: Sunny
Yamaha Motor Company celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a double podium finish
at Laguna Seca today, as Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi took second and third
place respectively in the United States Grand Prix. Both riders played a
starring role in the eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship and enjoyed a
thrilling battle for the final two rostrum positions that went to the last lap
of a race won by Nicky Hayden (Honda). Whilst Hayden got an electric start from
pole position, both Rossi and Edwards were baulked in their attempts to give
chase on the opening lap. Having started from second on the grid, Rossi made it
back to the same position by the end of the first lap after a battle with Troy
Bayliss (Honda), whilst Edwards was forced to fight his way through the pack
after being forced back to seventh in a combative first-corner clash.
With Hayden clear at the front, Rossi rode alone in second place until he was
caught by his American team-mate on the sixteenth lap, when Edwards lined up an
inch-perfect pass into the famous Corkscrew corner. After briefly closing down
the gap to Hayden, Edwards suffered from tyre wear in the closing stages and was
happy to settle for a second consecutive podium finish. Third place for Rossi
extends his advantage at the top of the championship to 79 points over Marco
Melandri (Honda), who crashed out on the first lap.
Both Fortuna Yamaha riders at least scored some points. When Ruben Xaus
recovered from a bad start he settled into his normal rhythm and finished in
11th position. Toni Elias was unable to show his full potential at the famous
but physically hard track due to the pain in his injured left wrist. Still the
young Spaniard was satisfied with the three points he scored finishing his first
race in almost two months in 13th position.
Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 2nd
"I made another bad start and ended up with two riders making a sandwich of me
into turn one. They had my handlebars on each side and just carried me into the
corner so I thought it was going to end in a big mess. Once I got clear of the
group I got my head down and pushed as hard as I could to pass Valentino. At
that point I still had something left to try and catch Nicky but every time I
closed the gap he responded, so hats off to him. When the tyres went off I was
just hanging on to finish the race. I knew I had an advantage of around two
seconds over Valentino but on the last lap I looked at my board and it said 0.6.
I guessed it must be a mistake but I then looked over my shoulder in turn two
and he was right there! I thought "oh no, not on the last lap!" I gave
everything I had left to hold him off and came close to crashing a few times so
second place is really pleasing."
Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 3rd
"I lost some time during practice trying to learn the circuit so the bike was
not at 100% today, and also our tyre choice was not perfect. Anyway, Nicky rode
very hard and it was impossible to catch him today. I knew Colin was coming but
I didn't realise how close he was and he caught me by surprise in the Corkscrew.
I lost some time there but at the end he lost some of his rhythm and I tried to
catch him. He turned around to look at me and I said: "Hello, I am here!" I
thought maybe to attack on the last lap but then I had a vision of both Yamahas
in the dirt so decided third place was okay, especially for the championship!
Anyway, I am very happy because I expected this to be the hardest race of the
season but I am the fastest European rider here and I fought with the Americans.
I have learnt a lot to try and beat them next year!"
Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director
"It has been a very good weekend for us and to have both riders together on the
podium for the third time this year is a nice way to celebrate Yamaha's 50th
Anniversary. It is great to see the yellow, white and black colours on the
podium after so many years, but most importantly we have seen Valentino extend
his advantage at the top of the championship and Colin get much closer to the
top. It has been a positive Grand Prix in every aspect for us. We have also
enjoyed the experience of being in California, and we look forward to coming
back next year."
Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 11th
Practice was unsatisfying for Rubén Xaus, who complained of being unable to show
his talent and experience at the Californian track. After the race the team
congratulated him nonetheless, "They did so because we keep picking up points. I
got a bad start and sometimes starting from the back can be a hairy. The first
corner is a bit dangerous and I tried to stay calm. After the mediocre practice
sessions I had, to start from the back doesn't do wonders for your confidence.
Anyway, the first five laps again were the problem. When I got past Rolfo
(Ducati), who was holding me up a bit, I was able to ride at my potential rhythm
of about a second slower than the leaders. The YZR-M1 reveals its secrets slowly
to me, so it's hard work, but everybody in the team remains calm. We support
each other through thick and thin. For now I'll have to be content with the
Superbike race I won here in 2003."
Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 13th
"I'm satisfied. We faced a difficult weekend and at least we will take home
three points. The race was so tough. My wrist was hurting a lot after four laps.
I think the sedation we injected didn't work as it should have. It was important
to finish though, and I hung on behind Hofmann (Kawasaki). This is a legendary
track, and I'm happy to race here, which has been one of my dreams and that is
another reason to be satisfied. However we need to improve. I want to return
next year and give it all when I'm in top shape, so I can show a better result
then this year."
Race classification MotoGP
Round: 8 - Laguna Seca MotoGP
Circuit: Laguna Seca
Circuit Length: 3610m
Lap Record: 1' 23.915 (Colin Edwards, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 22.670 (Nicky Hayden, 2005)
Race: 32 Laps
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 N. Hayden Honda USA 45'15.374
2 C. Edwards Yamaha USA +1.941
3 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA +2.312
4 M. Biaggi Honda ITA +4.216
5 S. Gibernau Honda ESP +4.478
6 T. Bayliss Honda AUS +22.381
7 M. Tamada Honda JPN +22.493
8 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA +23.148
9 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN +23.625
10 L. Capirossi Ducati ITA +26.123
11 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP +43.512
12 A. Hofman Kawasaki GER +50.957
13 T. Elias Yamaha ESP +51.343
14 K. Roberts Suzuki USA +1'13.749
15 S. Byrne Proton KR GBR +1'24.256
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 C. Edwards Yamaha USA 1'23.915
Championship standings MotoGP
Pos. Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 186
2 Marco Melandri Honda ITA 107
3 Max Biaggi Honda ITA 100
4 Sete Gibernau Honda ESP 95
5 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 93
6 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 85
7 Alex Barros Honda BRA 74
8 Loris Capirossi Ducati ITA 55
9 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki JPN 55
10 Troy Bayliss Honda AUS 47
11 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 40
12 Ruben Xaus Yamaha ESP 33
13 Makato Tamada Honda JPN 27
14 John Hopkins Suzuki USA 27
15 Olivier Jacque Kawasaki FRA 25
16 Toni Elias Yamaha ESP 18
21 David Checa Yamaha ESP 4
Manufacturers standings MotoGP
Pos. Manufacturer Points
1 Yamaha 190
2 Honda 166
3 Kawasaki 75
4 Ducati 64
5 Suzuki 35
6 Blata WCM 4
7 Proton KR 1
8 Moriwaki 1
Team standings MotoGP
Pos. Team Points
1 Yamaha Racing Team 279
2 Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 202
3 Repsol Honda Team 185
4 Honda Camel 121
5 Ducati Marlboro Team 95
6 Kawasaki Racing Team 93
7 Fortuna Yamaha Team 55
8 Konica Minolta Honda 39
9 Team Suzuki MotoGP 38
10 D'Antin MotoGP 7
11 Blata WCM 4
12 Team Roberts KR 1
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