Honda’s 21 year old sensation, Valentino Rossi, won his first 500 GP race ever today at Donnington Park in England. In a race largely affected by changing weather conditions, Rossi chose the right tires and finished the race ahead of second place Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) and third place Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia).
In his debut ride aboard the Modenas KR3, Anthony Gobert finished 15th.
Aprilia’s Ralf Waldmann turned a late-race charge into victory over the Yamahas of Olivier Jacque and Naoki Matsudo. The 250 race was also run under changing weather conditions (both wet and dry).
250cc Final Race Results (Top 10)
1. Ralf Waldmann (#6 - APRILIA) 2. Olivier Jacque (#19 - YAMAHA) 3. Naoki Matsudo (#8 - YAMAHA) 4. Tohru Ukawa (#4 - HONDA) 5. Jason Vincent (#24 - APRILIA) 6. Alex Debon (#30 - APRILIA) 7. Shinya Nakano (#56 - YAMAHA) 8. Johan Stigefelt (#16 - HONDA) 9. David Checa (#42 - HONDA) 10. Daijiro Katoh (#74 - HONDA)
250cc Current Points Standings (After Round 9) (Top 10)
1. Olivier Jacque (#19 - YAMAHA) 160 pts. 2. Shinya Nakano (#56 - YAMAHA) 153 pts. 3. Tohru Ukawa (#4 - HONDA) 145 pts. 4. Daijiro Katoh (#74 - HONDA) 134 pts. 5. Ralf Waldmann (#6 - APRILIA) 89 pts. 6. Anthony West (#14 - HONDA) 82 pts. 7. Marco Melandri (#13 - APRILIA) 71 pts. 8. Naoki Matsudo (#8 - YAMAHA) 63 pts. 9. Franco Battaini (#21 - APRILIA) 55 pts. 10. Sebastian Porto (#9 - YAMAHA) 47 pts.
500cc Final Race Results (Top 10)
1. Valentino Rossi (#46 - HONDA) 2. Kenny Roberts (#2 - SUZUKI) 3. Jeremy McWilliams (#99 - APRILIA) 4. Loris Capirossi (#65 - HONDA) 5. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (#17 - HONDA) 6. Norick Abe (#6 - YAMAHA) 7. Alex Criville (#1 - HONDA) 8. Sete Gibernau (#5 - HONDA) 9. Max Biaggi (#4 - YAMAHA) 10. Tadayuki Okada (#8 - HONDA)
500cc Current Points Standings (After Round 9) (Top 10)
1. Kenny Roberts (#2 - SUZUKI) 145 pts. 2. Carlos Checa (#7 - YAMAHA) 116 pts. 3. Loris Capirossi (#65 - HONDA) 102 pts. 4. Norick Abe (#6 - YAMAHA) 101 pts. 5. Valentino Rossi (#46 - HONDA) 92 pts. 6. Alex Criville (#1 - HONDA) 88 pts. 7. Alex Barros (#10 - HONDA) 79 pts. 8. Nobuatsu Aoki (#9 - SUZUKI) 75 pts. 9. Garry McCoy (#24 - YAMAHA) 62 pts. 10. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (#17 - HONDA) 56 pts.
