FRUSTRATING DAY FOR TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP AT CATALUNYA
12 June 2005 - Suzuki Racing

Kenny Roberts Jr scored a single point at today''s Gran Premio Gauloises de Catalunya whilst team-mate John Hopkins had a DNF after previously entering pit lane to change a tyre

The race was held in hot and humid conditions and tyre choice was always going to be an issue on the recently resurfaced Circuit de Catalunya. Hopkins'' Chief Technician Stuart Shenton was bitterly disappointed for both John and his crew: ''Words cannot express how upset we are after today''s race.
We thought we had made a good tyre choice but we ran into trouble and John had to come in and change the rear. We had another problem after that but it was irrelevant at that stage.''

Roberts Jr (P15) put on a brave display as the track surface took its toll on his Bridgestone race tyres, but he still managed to bring his Suzuki GSV-R home safely in a point scoring position. Roberts said; ''There''s not a lot to say really. We are struggling in every facet of the bike and tyres at the moment. Suzuki and Bridgestone are trying real hard and of course myself and John are probably trying too hard sometimes, which is difficult to see when we can''t show our true colours.

''The only way we''re going to get better is to try as hard as we can. Suzuki want to make it better and so do Bridgestone and we''re here if they want to do it - that''s all I can say at the moment.''

Today''s race was watched by 105,698 fans and they were treated to another victory by World Champion Valentino Rossi - his fifth win in six rounds this season.

Team SUZUKI MotoGP Manager Paul Denning was very disappointed by the day''s result. He said: ''Kenny showed real determination to carry on and finish the race even though he had absolutely no tyre left in the latter stages. He again scored a point in a difficult situation when it could have been easier - and probably safer - for him to pull in.

''John has had a difficult weekend. He was in the top-ten throughout all the practice sessions and went well in qualifying. He started the race well but had to pit and change the tyre, and then suffered another DNF. We can take some solace from the fact that his chance of a high finish had gone, so if there is such a thing as an acceptable failure this would be it.

''We will now move on to the next round at Assen and look to get both Kenny and John challenging higher up the field. If the Bridgestone tyres work well at a track which should suit the nimble GSV-R chassis we certainly have a better chance''

The next round of the MotoGP World Championship will be the Dutch Grand Prix from Assen Holland on Saturday 25th June.

Gran Premio Gauloises de Catalunya Race Classification

1. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 43''16.487: 2. Sete Gibernau (Honda) +1.094: 3. Marco Melandri (Honda) +7.810: 4. Alex Barros (Honda) +8.204: 5. Nicky Hayden (Honda) +8.273: 6. Max Biaggi (Honda) +12.051: 7. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) +18.762: 8. Troy Bayliss (Honda) +42.631: 9. Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) 46.638: 10: Ruben Xaus (Yamaha) +46.692: 15. KENNY ROBERTS JR (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP) +1''23.731: DNF. JOHN HOPKINS (TEAM SUZUKI MOTOGP):

World Championship Classification

1. Rossi 145: 2. Melandri 87: 3. Biaggi 77: 4. Gibernau 73: 5. Barros 65: 6. Edwards 57: 7. Hayden 47: 8. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 43: 9. Nakano 40: 10. Carlos Checa (Ducati) 33: 14. HOPKINS 16: 19. ROBERTS JR 9:

www.suzuki-racing.com

More News
  For June 2005
  From Suzuki Racing
  For Moto GP
  Biker247.com Home Page