YRC News
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MotoGP : Yamaha clinches constructors' crown with Rossi's 11th win
Round: 15 - Australian MotoGP
Circuit: Phillip Island
Date: 16 October 2005
Crowd: 65000
Temp: 16ēC
Weather: Clear Sky
Yamaha completed a clean sweep for 2005 today as the Constructors' World
Championship was added to the Riders' and Teams' titles thanks to Valentino
Rossi's eleventh win of the season at Phillip Island. The Gauloises Yamaha Team
rider held off a strong challenge from Nicky Hayden (Honda) to continue his
undefeated run at this circuit, which stretches back to 2001.
Rossi started well from second on the grid and chased pole setter Hayden over
the opening two laps before taking the lead and making several attempts to
escape. However the American hung on and was presented with the opportunity to
retake the lead when Rossi dropped the pace at the halfway stage. After studying
Hayden for three laps, Rossi regained control on lap nineteen and managed to
open out a one-second cushion as Hayden became embroiled in a scrap with Marco
Melandri (Honda). Hayden eventually got the better of the Italian but Rossi was
able to control his lead until the end of the race, winning by 1.007 seconds.
Colin Edwards remains in the hunt for second in the riders' championship after a
battling sixth place finish today. The Texan had struggled all weekend to match
the excellent pace he found here during pre-season testing and was unable to
hang on to the front group after starting from fifth on the grid. Edwards now
lies in fourth place overall, eight points behind Hayden and Melandri, who are
tied for second with two rounds remaining.
Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha team) 1st
"It has been an amazing season and today we have won the constructors' title for
Yamaha in the year of their 50th Anniversary, so I am very happy.
Congratulations to everybody. Eleven wins in the year matches my own record and
to do it at Phillip Island is very special for me. I have won a lot of important
races here, especially the 2001 500cc title and the title last year for Yamaha
and it is a magic track for me - I love it.
Today was tough, I had a great rival in Nicky Hayden and it was a great race. I
got to the front after two laps and had a good rhythm so I pushed two or three
times to escape. Every time Nicky came with me so I let him pass me just to see
how it was. Then some more riders arrived so I tried again and this time I
managed to get a one second advantage, which was like gold! I managed to hold it
until the last lap and to celebrate the win in front of this great crowd is
always a magnificent pleasure. Thank you to them and to everybody else who has
made this season so special."
Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 6th
"That wasn't great. We've been chasing our tail a little bit all weekend with
the set-up and unfortunately we ran out of time and ideas. In the winter
everything seemed okay here but this time we've been playing catch-up. In the
end we went towards Valentino's setting, which was obviously working well for
him, but for me it was just spinning up too much, even with the front wheel off
the ground, which isn't normal. I want to thank the whole team for their hard
work and congratulate Yamaha for the constructors' title. It's just a shame it
didn't work out for me today."
Jeremy Burgess - Valentino Rossi's crew chief
"It's been a good weekend for us, starting off with some fast and consistent
times on Friday and Saturday and then staying in good shape as the other riders
got better in the build-up to the race. Valentino controlled the race today and
gave another example of why he is World Champion - he rides with his head as
much as his wrist. It was nice for the Australian guys in the team to win their
home race but more than that we are delighted for Yamaha to win the
constructors' title. It was our only remaining target for the season so now we
can look forward to the last two rounds and see what comes up."
Tony Elias (Fortuna Yamaha team) 9th
"We had a traction problem throughout practice which stopped us from being any
higher up. In the race the problem still affected me on the corner exits and I
had to fight really hard during the race to try and hang on. We have to still
keep looking forward though, and continue working to improve every time we go
out. Next week we go to Turkey and I hope that we can further improve our
results."
Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 12th
"I had a lot of problems in the first five laps, because the bike felt heavy, I
was running wide and I couldn't get the corner exits that I wanted. I suffered a
lot over those first five laps, and I lost touch with the group ahead of me, but
I gradually fought my way back. In races though, you have to be fast from the
first to the last lap. I've picked up points though, and my pace at the end was
pretty good."
Race classification MotoGP
Round: 15 - Australian MotoGP
Circuit: Phillip Island
Circuit Length: 4448m
Lap Record: 1' 30.332 (Marco Melandri, 2005)
Race: 27 Laps
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 V. Rossi Yamaha ITA 41' 8.542
2 N. Hayden Honda USA +1.007
3 C. Checa Ducati ESP +4.215
4 M. Melandri Honda ITA +4.232
5 S. Gibernau Honda ESP +14.088
6 C. Edwards Yamaha USA +33.200
7 S. Nakano Kawasaki JPN +45.055
8 M. Tamada Honda JPN +45.103
9 T. Elias Yamaha ESP +45.104
10 J. Hopkins Suzuki USA +50.260
11 C. Vermeulen Honda AUS +50.697
12 R. Xaus Yamaha ESP +1' 8.324
13 R. Rolfo Ducati ITA +1'31.737
14 J. Ellison Blata WCM GBR +1 lap(s)
15 F. Battaini Blata WCM ITA +1 lap(s)
Fastest Race Lap:
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Total Time
1 M. Melandri Honda ITA 1'30.332
Championship standings MotoGP
Pos.Rider Manufacturer Nat. Points
1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha ITA 331
2 Marco Melandri Honda ITA 170
3 Nicky Hayden Honda USA 170
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha USA 162
5 Max Biaggi Honda ITA 159
6 Loris Capirossi Ducati ITA 148
7 Sete Gibernau Honda ESP 137
8 Alex Barros Honda BRA 129
9 Carlos Checa Ducati ESP 114
10 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki JPN 87
11 Makato Tamada Honda JPN 76
12 Kenny Roberts Suzuki USA 63
13 John Hopkins Suzuki USA 59
14 Toni Elias Yamaha ESP 58
15 Troy Bayliss Honda AUS 54
16 Ruben Xaus Yamaha ESP 49
Manufacturers standings MotoGP
Pos.Manufacturer Points
1 Yamaha 345
2 Honda 291
3 Ducati 178
4 Kawasaki 115
5 Suzuki 96
6 Blata WCM 13
7 Proton KR 1
7 Moriwaki 1
Team standings MotoGP
Pos.Team Points
1 Gauloises Yamaha Team 493
2 Repsol Honda Team 329
3 Team Movistar Honda MotoGP 307
4 Ducati Marlboro Team 262
5 Honda Camel 193
6 Kawasaki Racing Team 134
7 Team Suzuki MotoGP 122
8 Fortuna Yamaha Team 111
9 Konica Minolta Honda 88
10 D'Antin MotoGP 25
11 Blata WCM 14
12 Team Roberts KR 1
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