Marco Melandri made his dreams reality on Sunday after clinching his first win in the MotoGP class before the end of a season which has seen him establish himself amongst the brightest prospects in the category.
He emerged victorious at the new Istambul Park circuit at which he made his own right from the first qualifying session on Friday. Having demonstated his potential in qualifying, he rode the perfect race having moved to the front on lap six and took the chequered flag a second and a half ahead of world champion Valentino Rossi. Melandri assumed the lead after a mistake from team-mate Sete Gibernau had seen him leave the track. Rossi and Hayden joined Marco on the podium, while Sete fought back bravely to claim fourth. The win means Marco is closing on his main objective of the season, to end the season as runner-up in the premier class.
MARCO MELANDRI (1st): “It was an incredible day to cap a great weekend. I can’t describe my happiness. I have not won since Valencia in 2002, and since then I’ve had a difficult couple of years due to injury and misfortune. This win in the MotoGP class feels different to winning in the 250s. I liked this track from the first moment I tried it and the team did a great job. After dominating the free sessions I knew I could have a good race, but it’s not always that easy. I got away well and even though Sete got past me I was happy to wait as we were opening up a gap on the rest. Then Sete made a mistake and I found myself on my own at the front and I just concentrated on maintaining my rhythm. I want to enjoy this moment and thank Fuasto for the confidence he has shown in me, Fabrizio Cecchini, my chief mechanic and everyone at Honda and Michelin.”
SETE GIBERNAU (4th): “Once again it has been demonstrated that this is not my year and it’s a shame because the team did a great job this weekend and we had a great chance totake our fisrt win. We have wasted another chance but race after race things have not gone my way. I went off after a mistake; I went into a corner to quickly and tried to brake but couldn’t. It cost us dear again.”
TURKISH GP
1. M.Melandri (Ita/Hon) 41’44”139
2. V. Rossi (Ita/Yamaha)+ 1.513
3. N. Hayden (USA/Honda) + a 6.873
4. S. Gibernau (Esp/Honda) + 12.420
5. C. Checa (Esp/Ducati)+ 26.9633
6. T. Elías (Esp/Yamaha) + 29”105
CHAMPIONSHIP
1.V.Rossi (Ita/Yamaha) a 351 points
2.M. Melandri (Ita/Honda) 195 points
3.N. Hayden (USA/Honda ) 186 points
4. C.Edwards (USA/yamaha) 171 points
5. Max Biaggi (Ita/Honda)163 points
6. S.Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 150 points