The fifteenth race on the MotoGP calendar wrapped up with a fine victory for Loris Capirossi about his Ducati GP7. Fellow Ducati rider, Australian Casey Stoner, followed him home in sixth position, which allowed him to attain the brightest crown motorcycle racing, and be proclaimed MotoGP World Champion! The Pramac-Dantin Ducati Team, after two days filled with a multitude of problems, was able to improve in both cases. Alex Barros fought his way forward to eigth place, while Japanese substitute rider, Shinichi Ito, crossed the finish in fifteenth position, earning himself a World Championship point.
Alex Barros (8th Position. 47´57´82)
“Today was a little tricky, because this morning we realized that some of the changes we had made overnight didn’t work as well as we thought they would. The front of the bike was almost perfect, but the rear was very difficult to control. Anyway, after I changed bikes during the race, it took me about three laps to get on a good pace. Then, little by little I was able to make up places but Anthony West was able to maintain a gap on me and I wasn’t able to catch him in the closing laps.
I’m waiting for the next race in Australia in order to get a good result. In the preseason, we went very well there, but since then everyone has improved a lot and we’ll have to work just as hard to finish the season strongly”.
Shinichi Ito (15th Position. 48´17´77)
“I’m happy with my result, because the days before weren’t easy for me. I’d never ridden the Ducati here in Motegi, so it was a little strange. After so many years without racing in the top level, I’m satisfied to have finished in the points. I want to say that I enjoyed riding the Ducati very much, and and thanks to the entire team for the hard work they did for me”.
Luis d´Antin (Director General)
“This was a difficult race for us, after seeing the results from the Free Practices, but in the end we were able to improve a bit. Alex Barros ran a race which more or less demonstrated his experience in the MotoGP category, and with Shinichi Ito, his adaptation to the Ducati was progressive and he finished the race in from of riders with a lot of expe rience. He was also the top “wild-card” rider from Japan.
Finally, I want to congratulate the entire Ducati Team for conquering their rivals and becoming World Champions today”.
Classification:
1. Loris Capirossi 47´05´48
2. Randy de Puniet 47´16´33
3. Toni Elías 47´17´01
4. Sylvain Guintoli 47´17´67
5. Marco Melandri 47´34´05
8. Alex Barros 47´57´82
15. Shinichi Ito 48´17´77
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