Colin Edwards finishes sixth to put Telefonica Movistar back at the top of the Team Championship.

Sete Gibernau finished the Grand Prix of Brazil empty-handed, but still level with Valentino Rossi at the top of the World Championship. Sete made a small error on the second lap which led him to suffer his first fall since the race at Jerez last season. Gibernau lost control of his front wheel after passing Alex Barros, but some ten laps later the same thing happened to Valentino Rossi at the same point of the circuit to ensure the two remain locked together in the standings. Colin Edwards finished sixth and now sits fourth in the World Championship.

SETE GIBERNAU

(dnf): “It was a shame because after doing some excellent work with the team, a small error by me cost us dear. We had found a great rhythm and had a really good chance of winning here, but in the end the circumstances of the race did not allow us to. The sad thing is that we could have opened up a big lead. I feel sorry for the team because they gave everything, as always, but it wasn’t to be. I am sad because of what happened, but the championship is still wide open and my moral is really good to come back in Germany.”

COLIN EDWARDS

(6th): “What a shame for Sete he fell! I was sure he was going to win this race. When I saw him fall I could not believe it, but then the same thing happened to Valentino so the championship remains level. I concentrated on maintaining my rhythm - I passed Kenny Roberts and then thought about saving my tyres. I pushed very hard, but when you feel the tyres going it is very easy to make mistakes and so I concentrated on being steady. It was a difficult weekend overall, but I hope to take a step forward in Germany.”

FAUSTO GRESINI

(Team manager): “It’s a shame to lose an opportunity like this, but these things happen in races. We leave Rio in the same shape as when we came here, and we have to try and take the positives – it could have been much worse. We must now think about the next Grand Prix in Germany and be positive, as always. Colin rode a good race and his sixth place allows us to go back to the top in the Team Championship. We are still lacking something to fight with the rest of the Hondas, but we are sure it will arrive.”

RIO GP

1. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 44’21”976
2. Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda) + 2”019
3. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) + 5”764

6. Colin Edwards (USA/Honda) a 13”904

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Valentino Rossi 126 points
2. Sete Gibernau 126 points
3. Max Biaggi 113 points
4. Colin Edwards 64 points