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2005
MotoGP : R1
of 17: April 10 , 2005, JEREZ - SEASON OPENER
Gran Premio
Marlboro de España
RACE
RESULT:
APR 10, 2005:
- 1
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha M1, 27 laps
"That
was an amazing race, an incredible victory and really difficult,
especially after the fall I had this morning in the warm-up. Luckily
I wasn't hurt and the team did a great job to fix the problem and
set up my other bike for the race. Gibernau set a fast pace from
the start but I just tried to stay with him and then attacked at
the end. I got in front but I made a mistake on the last lap on
the braking and Gibernau got past. We passed each other again in
the fast rights but I got a better exit and there was enough space
for me to pass him in the final corner, it was the only place where
I could pass. We touched, but motorbike races are sometimes like
this. I know Sete is not happy but there are going to be 16 more
races this year and there will be many more hard battles. The level
of this race was really high."
- 2
Sete Gibernau , Honda
- 3
Marco Melandri, Honda
- 4 Barros,
Honda
“I
am quite satisfied with our beginning to the season, it was a great
team result in the first race, with two new riders and a lot of
highs and lows during the winter. Alex made a great fightback today,
after a weekend of problems and above all after a not too brilliant
start. I’m happy for him. I’m also happy for Troy, because
he had a great debut race after a tough off-season. I really think
he is finding a feeling for the new bike and I think that he is
getting the confidence with it, the best is surely yet to come.
We’re on the right tracks though!”
- 5 Nakano,
Kawasaki
- 6 Bayliss,
Honda
"I’m
quite happy. I think that sixth isn’t a bad result for the
first race with a new bike. I’m happy for the team too. We
still have a long season ahead of us, and I need and want to get
on that bike and do some good races. I feel good, now my motivation
is even greater and I can’t wait for the Portuguese GP next
week."
- 7 Biaggi,
Honda
“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.”
- 8 Tamada,
Honda
- 9 Edwards,
Yamaha
- 10
Checa, Ducati
- 11 Hofmann
12 Elias 13 Capirossi 14 Hopkins 15 Rolfo 16 Ellison
- DNF:
HAYDEN: “I’m 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.”
RACE REVIEW:
- Jeremy
Burgess (Rossi's crew chief): "In spite of the problems
we had this morning, everything came good for the race - especially
Valentino. He rode very intelligently behind Gibernau and then passed
him at the end. He opened out 0.3 seconds in the first section and
looked comfortable but he made a small mistake, which set up a brilliant
finale. It's a great start to the year for us - pole position, a
new lap record and the race win. We couldn't ask for more."
- YAMAHA:
Rossi opens title defence with determined victory at Jerez
Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi put the gloss on a perfect
start to his defence of the MotoGP World Championship at the Spanish
Grand Prix in Jerez today, smashing the lap record by over two seconds
and adding an incredible race victory to the pole position he took
in yesterday's qualifying session. The reigning World Champion stalked
Sete Gibernau (Honda) for almost the entire race, passing him for
the first time two laps from the end but allowing the Spaniard back
in front with a mistake halfway through the final circulation.
The pair diced
their way through the decisive series of fast right-handers in
the second half of the lap before Rossi demonstrated that he has
talent and determination in equally abundant measures with a brave
pass on the brakes into the final left-hand hairpin.
The Italian's
effort was particularly special thanks to the hard work put in
by the Gauloises Yamaha Team engineers and staff, who worked against
the clock to find the ideal set-up for his YZR-M1 after an uncharacteristic
crash in this morning's warm-up. Meanwhile, Rossi's Gauloises
Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards kept his promise of passing as
many riders as possible after starting from 15th on the grid.
The American made steady progress despite the dusty track surface,
making overtaking precarious anywhere off the racing line, eventually
sealing ninth place on his Yamaha MotoGP debut.
For the Fortuna
Yamaha Team-mates Toni Elias and Ruben Xaus it was also a day
of mixed fortunes. In his MotoGP debut Elias put in a strong and
consistent performance that left him with four points after finishing
12th on the day. His team-mate Xaus, on the other hand, ended
the day with a crash in the first lap and a stop go penalty after
entering pit lane too fast while trying to get the damage repaired
- ending the day 18th, two laps down.
QUALIFYING:
(N.B only 1 qualifying session in 2005)
GRID,
APR 9, 2005:
- 1
Valentino Rossi, Yamaha 1m 39.419 *** new record ***
"My fast lap was incredible! Michelin made a great
job with the qualifying tyres – my first one was good but
the second was even better. There is a big question mark over the
tyre choice for the race tomorrow because after a few laps they
start to slide a lot, but it’s the same situation for everyone.
Now we’re just looking for good weather tomorrow and hopefully
it will be a beautiful race.”
- 2
Sete Gibernau , Honda
- 3
Marco Melandri, Honda
- 4 Hayden,
Honda
- 5 Nakano,
Kawasaki
- 6 Capirossi,
Ducati
- 7 Tamada,
Honda
- 8 Barros,
Honda
"Compared with the tests here two weeks ago the conditions
have changed quite a lot and the difference is notable on the track.
It was windy this afternoon, it was cold and that made it harder
to ride than at the tests. We tried to change the set-up accordingly
this morning but without too much success. In the afternoon we went
back to a fork setting that worked better although it is still not
as good as I would like. We’re about half a second off the
pace and that isn’t satisfactory. Anyway, this is the best
set-up we have found and I’ll have to try and fight my way
to the front tomorrow so that we can take home a good result. As
far as the tyres are concerned we don’t have a problem –
I’m ready for the race.”
- 9 Bayliss,
Honda
“I’m
relatively happy – the third row of the grid isn’t bad.
We’ve improved but the guys at the front have set a very fast
pace and it will be important to get a good start tomorrow. We’ve
got a couple of things to try in the warm-up - nothing major, just
small adjustments. I’m not really thinking about that though,
just looking forward to a good race.”
- 10 Hofmann,
Kawasaki
- 11 Hopkins
12 Checa 13 Elias 14 Roberts 15 Edwards
- 16 Biaggi 17
Xaus 18 Rolfo 19 Battaini 20 Byrne 21 Ellison
- ELIAS
(YAMAHA) 13TH, his first MotoGP: "I'm quite happy
with today. In the tests we were improving all the time and it all
came together in that session. I'm very comfortable with the bike
in race trim, but I need more time to get used to pushing hard on
the softer tyres when it counts in qualifying. I'm very happy with
the time, just not the position, but I need to remind myself that
I am still learning. It's important to be there and learn from these
fast guys tomorrow."
FRI
PRACTICE 2, APR 8, 2005:
- 1
Sete Gibernau , Honda 1m 40.801
"I think the good preseason the team have had, together
with Honda and Michelin, is starting to show,” commented Gibernau.
“We have to be satisfied with the first day because we’re
on top and we’ve still got room for improvement. It’s
the first time the afternoon session hasn’t counted for qualifying
and we used it to find a good race setting, completing as many laps
as possible on the race tyres, and the pace we set was very satisfactory"
- 2
Nicky Hayden, Honda 1m 40.894
- 3
John Hopkins , Suzuki, 1m 40.934
- 4 Melandri,
Honda
- 5 Rossi,
Yamaha
"This morning was good but this afternoon it was more difficult,
we had a few problems, so I'm not entirely happy. We made some changes
to the settings to try and improve the situation but it seemed to
get more difficult to improve my time! However, there was no qualifying
today so Friday's lap time is not as important as it used to be.
Our objective today was to work on the setting of the bike and that
is what we have done. Tomorrow we will keep going and make some
changes to the suspension to find a better feeling with the front
end of the bike."
- 6 Biaggi,
Honda
- 7 Nakano
- 8 Capirossi
- 9 Edwards
- 10 Barros 11
Hofmann 12 Tamada 13 Bayliss 14 Roberts 15 Elias 16 Checa
- 17 Xaus 18
Rolfo 19 Byrne 20 Battaini
FRI
PRACTICE 1, APR 8, 2005:
- 1
Sete Gibernau , Honda 1m 40.800
- 2
Rossi, Yamaha
1m 40.886
- 3
Hayden, Honda 1m 41.340
- 4 Hopkins,
Suzuki
- 5 Edwards,
Yamaha
- 6 Barros, Honda
- 7 Nakano 8
Tamada 9 Melandri 10 Hofmann
- 11 Roberts
12 Capirossi 13 Checa 14 Bayliss 15 Biaggi 16 Elias
- 17 Xaus 18
Rolfo 19 Byrne 20 Battaini 21 Ellison
250cc
/ 125cc GP RESULT
RACE
PREVIEW:
RIDER
QUOTES:
- BIAGGI
(HONDA): "An HRC factory ride means two things at the same
time: great value and huge responsibility. We've got to
put ourselves back on top of the world, but to achieve that we cannot
take anything for granted 17-races are tough and competitors are
sharpening their blades. But Honda and me, together, can make it."
- GIBERNAU
(HONDA): "Jerez has always been an incredible place.
This year it will be even more incredible as it is the first race
of a challenging and amazing Championship season. During the winter
testing we all worked together, focusing in one direction and I
am very pleased with the results we have made. There is more work
to be done but the single lap times and race pace has been very
satisfying and has confirmed that we have a very strong base to
work with"
- HAYDEN
(HONDA): "I'm glad testing is over and it's now time for the
real thing.
It was satisfying to be in such good shape here over the last test
weekend of the year - and at the track we'll be racing at for the
opening Grand Prix. I know we don't get any points for testing but
it was good to give my team something to smile about. I feel we've
got a competitive package. We've all worked real hard to understand
the bike and each other. With only one qualifying session we need
to be in good shape."
- TAMADA
(HONDA): "After the Jerez tests I feel very confident
with the RC211V. We tested everything we needed to test and I even
ran a race simulation with consistently fast lap times. The only
things I didn't have time to test to my satisfaction were the Michelin
qualifying tyres. I'm not entirely comfortable with them yet - but
that will come. I'm really looking forward to this race."
- BARROS
(HONDA): "We have worked hard during winter, especially at
Jerez.
On the last test day I did over a hundred laps, testing everything
both on the bike and with the tyres. By the end we found a good
set-up and I think we are ready for the race, which will be hard
fought. There was hardly anything to choose between so many riders
in the winter tests and this season will be very tough and extremely
competitive."
- BAYLISS
(HONDA): "Finally the tests have come to an end, and the World
Championship begins.
During winter not everything was rosy for me, but despite a few
difficulties, we have made a lot of progress. In Jerez I wasn't
as quick as in the December tests and frankly I still don't know
why, but the effort we put in has been enormous. This Sunday we'll
see if we are able to capitalise on the hard work we have done up
to now. I simply can't wait for the race to come around."
- HOPKINS
(SUZUKI): "I think there'll be a lot of changes up front this
year ...
Valentino and Sete Gibernau will be there of course, but
the young talent like myself, Nicky Hayden and Marco Melandri will
be challenging a lot more."
- BYRNE
(PROTON): "I think the same old names will be in contention,
but some new names will come through ... but overall I can't see
past Rossi"
YAMAHA
SET-UP
Yamaha returns
to the Jerez circuit in Spain this week to begin its defense of
the MotoGP World Championship title after an intense winter of testing,
which concluded at the Spanish circuit just eight days ago. In the
year of Yamaha's 50th anniversary, current World Champion Valentino
Rossi and his new Gauloises Yamaha Team-mate Colin Edwards will
be challenging for victory on the new, improved version of the impressive
YZR-M1 machine that swept to the title in Rossi's prodigious hands
in 2004.
It's been a
busy winter for the Italian, which began with an historic journey
to Yamaha's head office in Iwata, Japan, to receive the certificate
of ownership for his title-winning YZR-M1. The bike was given to
Rossi as a personal 'thank you' from the company's president, Mr
Toru Hasegawa, last November. Since then Yamaha's engineers and
Rossi have worked extensively on the 2005 version of the machine
at in-depth test sessions in Malaysia, Australia and Spain, where
he has been joined by his new Gauloises Yamaha team-mate Edwards.
For the Fortuna
Yamaha Team, who has shadowed the Yamaha factory outfit at every
test, this pre-season program has been just as intense. But with
two new names behind the 'bars of the factory supported YZR-M1 -
Ruben Xaus and Toni Elias - it has been an extremely valuable experience
for the Spanish pair.
2005
YZR-M1 Set-up Report
For some time Jerez, Spain has signified the beginning of the European
leg of the MotoGP World Championship, but for 2005 it is the first
leg of the 17 round season. It's fitting then that Jerez is the
circuit which traditionally pulls in the largest crowd, well over
200,000 last year during the three day event. It's due to the Spanish
passion for motorcycle racing, but also the circuit's reputation
for providing hard and close racing.
The closeness
of the racing can be attributed to the undulating 4423m layout,
numerous hard braking areas and countless camber changes; making
a predictable chassis balance the primary concern - especially during
heavy braking. For this reason it's necessary to maintain stability
over the countless bumps that infest the entry into almost every
turn, while also providing front-end feel which will inspire confidence.
The front forks
will need to deal with the high braking loads yet they must also
offer enough movement while almost fully compressed to ensure that
it is the suspension absorbs these bumps rather than the front tyre.
Increasing the spring rate will prevent the front of the motorcycle
from diving too quickly under heavy deceleration - a result of the
weight transferring forward - while the fork compression damping
will be set to allow enough high-speed movement to deal with the
repetitive bumps.
Fork rebound
on the other hand is dialed in to slow the return of the forks to
their full length. This will prevent under-steer as the rider makes
the transition from brakes to throttle and the weight transfers
to the rear of the motorcycle. These steps, along with reducing
the rear ride-height, will ensure the back wheel stays planted on
the tarmac, in turn improving braking stability.
The virtually
all-new 2005 YZR-M1 has experienced a few teething problems throughout
the winter test schedule, but nothing that Yamaha feels will seriously
hinder its chances at fighting for a victory at the first race of
the year. The most visually obvious of these is with the main chassis
- the upper engine mounts have been revised, as have the twin main
spars. These changes have been made in an effort to retain the same
vertical and twist rigidity as in 2004 while reducing the lateral
rigidity - effectively increasing front-end feel at high lean angles,
when the effects of suspension travel is reduced. A crucial benefit
on the bumpy high-speed turns featured at Jerez.
The overall
dimensions of the YZR-M1 have also seen it stand slightly taller
to help get the weight over the front of the bike during heavy braking.
This effectively pushes the weight of the bike directly down the
fork legs, pressing the front tyre harder into the track and increasing
traction as a result. Again this is a significant advantage at such
a hard braking circuit like Jerez.
The rear spring
rate will be set slightly firmer to prevent the bike squatting under
power through the long, sweeping, high-speed corners and the resulting
cornering forces, while overall feel will be ensured with less compression
damping - aimed at helping riders gain the best drive off the positive
cambered turns. The M1's 2005 in-line four-cylinder engine will
also help this cause thanks to the further evolution of its 2004
revised firing order design.
The revised
firing interval of 2004 ensured the M1 retained the advantages of
its compact in-line four-cylinder design with the added bonus of
a power delivery resembling that of a V engine layout. You only
needed to hear the M1 to know there was something very different
about the 2004 machine. So much so that many media nicknamed this
latest incarnation as the 'big bang' M1. For 2005 Yamaha's engineers
have delved further into identifying the ideal firing cycle in an
effort to increase the peak power without sacrificing the 'sweetness'
of the delivery.
2004
MotoGP Race Summary
Persistently wet conditions at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez last
year upset the pre-race qualifying predictions and delivered a fourth
and sixth place finish respectively for the Yamaha pairing of Valentino
Rossi and Carlos Checa. The 27-lap race was held in full-wet conditions
throughout making most riders opt for medium compound wet tyres
front and rear. The race was something of a battle against the elements
for all riders, with only 15 of the 23 classified as finishers.
Up until the closing stages Yamaha rider Marco Melandri showed some
of his former brilliance by featuring in the top three before being
claimed as one of the eight no-finishers.
Rossi and Checa,
both starting from the front row, filed into the first turn behind
early leader and eventual race winner Sete Gibernau (Honda).Coming
under pressure from the riders behind, Rossi chose discretion at
the start, as first Checa and then second place finisher Max Biaggi
(Honda) passed him. A fight for second place saw the position swapped
between Checa and Biaggi twice, but ultimately Biaggi made a small
break, finding himself behind leader Gibernau, whilst Melandri powered
through to take third place on lap four. Checa and Rossi held fourth
and fifth positions respectively until Rossi mounted a successful
attack on lap nine. Alex Barros (Honda) passed Checa soon after.
Rossi survived
a huge near-high-side at the exit of the first hairpin on lap 12
and Barros took the opportunity to glide past on the sodden track
surface. With Melandri out on lap 19, after falling on the slippy
track, Barros was promoted to third, Rossi fourth. After experiencing
traction and vision concerns, Checa made a late attack on Colin
Edwards (Honda) and duly passed him to finish in sixth place.
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2004
CHAMPION:
Valentino Rossi
QUICKEST
PRE SEASON: GIBERNAU WINS
BMW CAR
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NAKANO 