Sete Gibernau ended the Czech Republic Grand Prix with an impressive victory, his third of the season, after an exciting race which demanded a cool head and first class riding. The Spaniard led the race from start to finish over 22 unending laps but saved his best for last, escaping from the shadow of Valentino Rossi after Alex Barros crashed out and relieved the pressure on the Italian.
Sete stepped up the pace on the final four laps to seal an important victory, cutting back Rossi’s championship advantage to just 17 points. HRC had brought new material for this weekend but the team decided to stick with what was already a winning bike in light of the weather conditions and their decision was rewarded with the ultimate prize. Sete, who recieved a phone call from Mr. Kanazawa during the press conference, thanked the team, HRC and Michelin for their collective triumph. The new exhaust pipes delivered by Honda will be tested tomorrow and Tuesday.
SETE GIBERNAU
(1st): “That was an incredible race – entertaining but at the same time very hard. If that’s the way it looked from the outside, then just imagine what it was like for us! First of all I want to say thanks to Honda, to Mr Kanazawa, for all the support they have offered us from the start of the season and for the new material we have recieved here at Brno. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to test it because of the weather. We wanted to win this race and it was a tough decision but the whole team thought it was best to go with what we knew despite a big effort from HRC. We were competitive in the wet and the dry and the result was ideal. Michelin also contributed with a good tyre choice despite the fact that there was very little time to decide what was best. I am sure we will get to Estoril even stronger and more motivated.”
COLIN EDWARDS
(7th): “We put a soft tyre on in the warm-up which we ruled out for the race because it was spent after six laps. We went for a harder tyre – the same as the other Honda and Michelin riders – but it didn’t work well with my chassis. I started to get some chattering problems after a few laps and it prevented me from pushing forward. To really get over the chattering problem I need the new chassis from Honda – I am the only Honda rider on Michelin tyres using the same chassis as at the start of the season.”
FAUSTO GRESINI
(Team manager): “Today it was important not to make any mistakes and to get some points back in the championship. It wasn’t easy to leave the new material in the box but Sete preferred to concentrate on the race and use the bike he already knew so this is a great result for him and the team. It was fundamental to get back on the top step of the podium. Tomorrow we’ll concentrate on the tests we have organised alongside Honda, who are keen to prepare as well as possible for what promises to be a very tough end to the season.”
CZECH REPUBLIC GP
- Gibernau (Hon) 44’03”480
- Rossi (Yam) + 3”514
- Biaggi (Hon) + 4”330
- Tamada (Hon) + 16”257
- Capirossi (Duc) + 17”930
- Checa (Yam) + 21”181
- Edwards (Hon) +22”471
MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
- V. Rossi 184 p.
- S. Gibernau 167 p.
- M. Biaggi 158 p.
- C. Edwards 104 p.
- A. Barros 86 p.
- N. Hayden 83 p.
- C. Checa 82 p.