Honda’s Valentino Rossi, despite a horrible start that found him in 15th position at the end of lap one, came through to win the Catalunya 500 GP race in convincing style over second place Max Biaggi (Yamaha). Rossi, once again, looked almost unbeatable today and, should he stay on two wheels the rest of the year, is surely on his way to the championship. Defending champion Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) crashed out of the race, and was unhurt. Roberts, lying tenth in the championship points race, now has virtually no chance of defending his title.
Honda’s Daijiro Katoh continues to dominate the 250 class with another victory today in Catalunya ahead of several Aprilas, including Tetsuya Harada in second. Katoh has won five of the six GP races this year.
500cc Final Race Results (Top 10)
1. Valentino Rossi #46 HONDA 2. Max Biaggi #3 YAMAHA 3. Loris Capirossi #65 HONDA 4. Shinya Nakano #56 YAMAHA 5. Sete Gibernau #15 SUZUKI 6. Norick Abe #6 YAMAHA 7. Tohru Ukawa #11 HONDA 8. Carlos Checa #7 YAMAHA 9. Jurgen vd Goorbergh #17 PROTON KR 10. Noriyuki Haga #41 YAMAHA
250cc Final Race Results (Top 10)
1. Daijiro Katoh #74 HONDA 2. Tetsuya Harada #31 APRILIA 3. Roberto Rolfo #44 APRILIA 4. Roberto Locatelli #15 APRILIA 5. Fonsi Nieto #10 APRILIA 6. Jeremy McWilliams #99 APRILIA 7. Emilio Alzamora #7 HONDA 8. Randy De Puniet #81 APRILIA 9. Alex Hofmann #66 APRILIA 10. Naoki Matsudo #8 YAMAHA
500cc Points Standings (Top 10)
1. Valentino Rossi #46 HONDA 116 pts. 2. Max Biaggi #3 YAMAHA 90 pts. 3. Loris Capirossi #65 HONDA 81 pts. 4. Norick Abe #6 YAMAHA 74 pts. 5. Shinya Nakano #56 YAMAHA 63 pts. 6. Alex Criville #4 HONDA 62 pts. 7. Alex Barros #28 HONDA 60 pts. 8. Tohru Ukawa #11 HONDA 45 pts. 9. Sete Gibernau #15 SUZUKI 40 pts. 10. Kenny Roberts #1 SUZUKI 37 pts.
250cc Points Standings (Top 10)
1. Daijiro Katoh #74 HONDA 131 pts. 2. Tetsuya Harada #31 APRILIA 121 pts. 3. Marco Melandri #5 APRILIA 78 pts. 4. Roberto Locatelli #15 APRILIA 73 pts. 5. Roberto Rolfo #44 APRILIA 71 pts. 6. Fonsi Nieto #10 APRILIA 60 pts. 7. Jeremy McWilliams #99 APRILIA 43 pts. 8. Emilio Alzamora #7 HONDA 42 pts. 9. Naoki Matsudo #8 YAMAHA 34 pts. 10. Alex Hofmann #66 APRILIA 27 pts.
