Nicky Hayden’s championship chances took a blow today as both Repsol Honda riders ended up in the gravel after a coming together on the 5th lap of the Portuguese Grand Prix. Though obviously very disappointed to have lost his lead in the World Championship, the 25-year-old American star goes to the final round at Valencia still in with a chance of taking the title. He now sits eight points behind Valentino Rossi, who finished in second place today.
From his front row start Hayden was fourth on the first lap before pulling off an amazing move round the outside to take third from Colin Edwards. Pedrosa meanwhile was in second place on the first lap and was looking strong behind Valentino Rossi before losing the place to Edwards who had squeezed back past Hayden. Hayden overtook his team-mate on lap four but on the next lap Pedrosa made a mistake braking into turn six and fell, taking Hayden down with him. Afterwards Pedrosa went to Hayden’s motorhome to apologise and the Repsol Honda riders shook hands. Pedrosa suffered a small fracture in the little finger on his left hand but should be fit to ride at the next race.
Toni Elias won the race for Fortuna Honda. Hayden was understandably very disappointed but vowed to continue the fight at the final round in Valencia which takes place in two weeks’ time on October 29.
Nicky Hayden: Position: DNF - Best lap: 1m 38.396s
World Championship position: 2nd – 236pts
Front tyre: 16.5" Medium compound Michelin
Rear tyre: 16.5" Medium compound Michelin
“I don’t know what to say really – it just hurts. I had a really hard tyre on for the race, especially for the left handers, and it came in and I couldn’t believe how comfortable I felt in the first few laps. I was a lot faster than Edwards and I’d just made up my mind that I’d pass him right there on the brakes and I felt I could go and see what Valentino had. I don’t expect Dani to pull over and let me by but I definitely didn’t expect him to do that. We’re professionals and Dani did come to my motorhome and talk to me afterwards and we shook hands. I’ve proved this weekend that I wasn’t going to give up without a fight and even now I believe I’m pretty strong. This was not one of my best tracks and I’ve come here and gone quick – I was fastest in one session, got on the front row and had a good race pace. I need Dani’s help now because anything could happen in Valencia, so I hope his hand’s ok. I told him there’s a way to make it up to me and that’s if we run one-two in Valencia then the championship’s still possible. It’s racing.”
Dani Pedrosa: Position: DNF - Best lap: 1m 38.704s
World Championship position: 5th – 202pts
Front tyre: 16.5" Medium compound Michelin
Rear tyre: 16.5" Medium compound Michelin
“What can I say? I made a mistake and I’m really sorry. It’s the first time I’ve hit another rider in my career – it’s never happened before in practice or racing in six years and it’s happened at the worst moment that I could do it. Obviously I’m very unhappy and Nicky is not happy and I just want to apologize because I made a mistake. I said sorry to Nicky and I can understand that he is very upset – I wish I could change it. I didn’t want to pass him at that moment. I braked and my rear wheel came off the ground and then it touched the ground again, I got a little more speed. I couldn’t stop the bike and there was nowhere to go. I have a fracture in my little finger but we have time for it to be ok for Valencia.”
Makoto Tanaka – Repsol Honda Team Manager “This was definitely a very disappointing day for us. But this extraordinary season is not over yet. Obviously our target for the next race at Valencia is for Nicky to win and for Dani to finish second which would give Nicky the riders’ championship title.”
Race result – after 28 laps:1 Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 46m 08.739s
2 Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team + 0.002s
3 Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts + 0.176s
4 Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team + 0.864s
5 Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda + 18.419s
6 John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 25.181s
7 Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha + 29.348s
8 Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda + 31.813s
9 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 40.117s
10 Randy de Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team + 41.496s
11 Alex Hofmann Pramac d’Antin MotoGP + 41.533s
12 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team + 44.776s
13 James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha + 1m 19.113s
14 Jose L. Cardoso Pramac d’Antin MotoGP + 1m 40.716s
15 Garry McCoy Ilmor SRT + 4 laps
Not Classified: Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda Team
Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda Team
Casey Stoner - Honda LCR
Sete Gibernau - Ducati Marlboro Team
Shinya Nakano - Kawasaki Racing Team
World Championship Standings: 1 Valentino Rossi Camel Yamaha Team 244
2 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 236
3 Marco Melandri Fortuna Honda 217
4 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team 209
5 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 202
6 Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts 126
7 Casey Stoner Honda LCR 119
8 Colin Edwards Camel Yamaha Team 117
9 John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 111
10 Toni Elias Fortuna Honda 106
11 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 98
12 Sete Gibernau Ducati Marlboro Team 95
13 Makoto Tamada Konica Minolta Honda 92
14 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team 83
15 Carlos Checa Tech 3 Yamaha 69
16 Randy de Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team 37
17 Alex Hofmann Ducati Marlboro Team 30
18 James Ellison Tech 3 Yamaha 24
19 Jose L. Cardoso Pramac d’Antin MotoGP 10
20 K. Akiyoshi Team Suzuki MotoGP 3
Pole Position: Valentino Rossi 1m 36.200s
Race Conditions: Werather: Cloudy
Temp: 20º C
Humidity: 55%
Fastest Race Lap: Kenny Roberts Jr : 1m 37.914s
Circuit length: 4.182km – 2.597 miles
Lap Record: Kenny Roberts Jr 1m 37.914s (2006)
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