SUPERB PODIUM FOR BIAGGI
18 September 2005 - Honda Racing

Repsol Honda’s Max Biaggi ended a dazzling Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix in taking a spirited second place with team-mate Nicky Hayden coming home in seventh place and earning valuable championship points in front of 70,000 captivated fans.

Since his storming ride to the podium at the last GP in the Czech Republic, Biaggi has been riding with much more confidence and secured his best starting position since Catalunya back in June when he qualified in fourth place. In the morning’s warm-up he circulated the 4.801km track fast and consistently indicating that a good result in the race was certainly possible.

The Italian made an amazing start and tucked in behind Honda-mounted Marco Melandri who led from the lights. Biaggi slipped to third behind Loris Capirossi (Ducati) by the end of the first lap. The two Italians then had a heroic, race-long struggle after relegating Melandri to third. Biaggi led the thrilling 24-lap encounter for seven laps before Capirossi made his pass stick, crossing the line 1.4s ahead of Biaggi.

The 34-year-old is now 16 points ahead of Colin Edwards in the epic battle for second place in the championship. Valentino Rossi, Sete Gibernau and Alex Barros were all leading riders who crashed out uninjured in the race with only 11 finishers. Marco Melandri suffered injuries to his foot when Rossi collided with his compatriot.

Hayden wasn’t at all happy after the morning’s warm-up when he struggled for grip in the cooler conditions and finished the session having posted the 12th fastest time. His team made adjustments to his RC211V but to no avail. He never had the lap times to compete at the front and was running in the middle of the pack before an off-track excursion forced him down to 12th. He battled back from this position and ended collecting nine valuable championship points that see him move up from seventh to fifth in the riders standings with five races in the 2005 championship remaining.

Max Biaggi
Position: 2nd - Best lap: 1m 47.985 (2nd fastest)
Front: 16.5'' slick Michelin Rear: 16.5'' slick Michelin
“That race was so hard and I am very happy with the result in the end. Michelin did a great job with the tyres – the grip on the edge was unbelievable! When I opened the throttle there was so much traction it was incredible. My team have done a great job and even if we didn’t win we improved again in the championship. It is good to be the best Michelin finisher and the first Honda back as well. I’m confident in Malaysia that we can take revenge on Bridgestone! They did a great job and Loris rode very hard – congratulations to them. A good battle to watch for the fans I think.”

Nicky Hayden
Position: 7th - Best lap: 1m 48.883s (11th fastest)
Front: 16.5'' slick Michelin Rear: 16.5'' slick Michelin
“Things never really clicked here for the moment I got of the plane really. Seemed like I was on the back foot all weekend and things never came good to be honest. In the race I had a good battle with a few guys and went back and forth with Barros a few times then I overshot at the end of the straightaway and lost a few places. I got things back together and made up some places and rode for the points. I feel I let my boys down here and don’t feel good about it. I just want to make sure we come out of the gate fast in Sepang next week and put things straight.”

Makoto Tanaka - Team Manager
“An interesting race and I’m happy for Max and his team. Today he showed what he can do from a good second row start – I would be interested to see what he could do from regular front row starts! He his riding very strongly at the moment and it is good to see his place in the championship consolidated. Nicky was never really happy over the weekend. His qualifying session masked problems that he has had here. He rode hard even though his lap times were down a little and in the end his placing moved him up in the championship.”

Race results

Rider Team Time
1 L Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 43m 30.49
2 M Biaggi Repsol Honda + 1.4
3 M Tamada Konica Minolta Honda + 16.2
4 C Checa Ducati Marlboro Team + 22.1
5 J Hopkins Team Suzuki MotoGP + 33.2
6 C Edwards Gauloises Yamaha Team + 34.9
7 N Hayden Repsol Honda + 45.9
8 K Roberts Team Suzuki MotoGP + 56.4
9 T Elias Fortuna Yamaha Team + 1m 12
10 R Xaus Fortuna Yamaha Team + 1m 34
11 F Battaini Team D''Antin Pramac + 1 lap

World Championship Standings

Rider Team Pts
1 V Rossi Gauloises Yamaha Team 261
2 M Baiggi Repsol Honda 149
3 C Edwards Gauloises Yamaha Team 133
4 M Melandri Movistar Honda MotoGP 126
5 N Hayden Repsol Honda 121
6 L Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 117
7 S Gibernau Movistar Honda MotoGP 115
8 A Barros Camel Honda 114
9 C Checa Ducati Marlboro Team 72
10 S Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 69

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