MotoGP - Rossi on Provisional Pole at Welkom

[Aaron]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2004/Apr/040416c.htm

Strong outings for all of the yamaha team as well as Kenny Roberts on the Suzuki! Should be a great season seeing the different brands mix it up!!

[ROCR1]

Looking goog for Yamaha - Rossi :applause:

[Aaron]

Rossi takes poll at Welkom; Hayden much improved; Good showing by Nakano on Kawasaki; Honda hot on Rossi's tail!!

Just over 17 hrs remaining...can't wait!!!!
http://http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2004/Apr/040417b.htm


Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Valentino Rossi Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Yamaha 1:32.647
2 Sete Gibernau Telefonica Movistar Honda Honda 1:32.682
3 Max Biaggi Camel Honda Honda 1:32.919
4 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Honda 1:33.098
5 Colin Edwards Telefonica Movistar Honda Honda 1:33.111
6 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:33.276
7 Marco Melandri Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha 1:33.296
8 Alex Barros Repsol Honda Honda 1:33.359
9 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:33.522
10 Kenny Roberts Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:33.543
11 John Hopkins Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:33.598
12 Makoto Tamada Camel Honda Honda 1:33.679
13 Alex Hofmann Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:33.815
14 Carlos Checa Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Yamaha 1:33.884
15 Neil Hodgson D'Antin MotoGP Ducati 1:33.977
16 Ruben Xaus D'Antin MotoGP Ducati 1:34.103
17 Jeremy McWilliams MS Aprilia Racing Aprilia 1:34.404
18 Norick Abe Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha 1:34.484
19 Shane Byrne MS Aprilia Racing Aprilia 1:34.703
20 Nobuatsu Aoki Proton Team KR Proton KR 1:34.845

[curvecrazy]

Rossi takes it on the Yamaha. Sweet. Its been a long time since Yamaha has taken a win at GP level. And at the end Biaggi gave him what appeared to be a heartfelt victory hand shake. Could it be that Valentino and Max have gotten over their long standing dislike for one another?
Anyways. That was nice to see. Seemed like Biaggi was so close that it could be him winning easily enough if he gets his ducks in order. It will be an interesting season. Can't wait.

[Aaron]

cc: I totally agree...it was great to watch yamaha win. And it was very entertaining to say the least to see the dynamics between rossi and biaggi unfold during and post race. Great race!

I will be interested to see how the yamaha performs on longer/faster tracks that would be more suitable to the hondas clear power advantage. Biaggi was impressive to say the least in his ability to hang w/ rossi in the technical sections of the track. I think we may get a different result when the hondas are allowed to "stretch thier legs" and use there superior power to their advantage. We shall see... can't wait!!

[Jonesie]

That was a great race. Exciting to the very end. I was amazed at the gap that Rossi and Biaggi put between themselves and everyone else. It's going to be an exciting year that's for sure.

Aaron, on an aside note... I got a letter from Fisher Price stating that they recieved my resume. Even if I don't get an offer... thanks for helping me out!

Ray

[Rx3]

Great ride by "THE DOCTOR" :)

I highly doubt Biaggi and Rossi will stop the feud. I think it was just one of those "mutual respect, we both went balls out, lets call a truce for one hour" type deals. They will be at each other's throats soon enough.

[Rx3]

`I was pleased to see that when Valentino took off his helmet he was sweating as much as me,´ said Biaggi. `It sure was no walkover for either of us. Congratulations to him because he made a great race. I think than the mutual respect above all after such a race is indubitable.´
http://motograndprix.tiscali.com/en/motogp/news_info/news_info_11774_1.htm?menu=home

http://images.motograndprix.com/multimedia2/268/268828.jpg