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Rossi rounds out the year with another win

46 is number one
By Dan Moakes November 5 2003
Last year’s record for points in a season was beaten by Valentino Rossi, when he reached 357 in the Valência Grand Prix. On top of that, he stood on the podium for the twenty-second consecutive race - something which won’t be easily overtaken, unless it’s by Rossi himself.

The teams returned to Europe for the last GP of 2003, which was also the 200th for Ducati team leader Loris Capirossi. The Italian rider was on the front row of the grid for the twelfth time this season, but as ever there were Honda RCV pilots ahead of him. Rossi’s pole position was his twentieth in the premier class, and he was celebrating the end of term as his bike sported a psychedelic version of the usual Repsol Honda livery.

Capirossi was separated from the champion by Sete Gibernau, with the second Repsol machine of Nicky Hayden in fourth - his best position to date. Row two was led by the first of the Yamahas - Carlos Checa with a new chassis - from Max Biaggi (Honda), Colin Edwards (Aprilia) and Alex Barros (Yamaha). Edwards had equalled his previous best from Barcelona.

Row three saw Tohru Ukawa (ninth on his Honda), leading Troy Bayliss (Ducati), from two more of the M1 Yamahas. First of these was Norick Abe, who was appearing for the fifth time this year. On this occasion, the Japanese rider was standing in for Marco Melandri, injured in the Australian race. He was just in front of compatriot Shin’ya Nakano.

The first Kawasaki and Proton runners were on row four, with Suzuki’s quickest man heading up row five. Last on the grid was lone WCM pilot David de Gea, as team-mate Chris Burns had sustained injuries during practice and was unable to race.

The start saw Rossi take the lead, but he was quickly deposed by Capirossi. Behind them came Hayden, Biaggi, Gibernau, Checa, Ukawa, Bayliss, Edwards and Barros; but it wasn’t long before Troy was relegated to tenth by these last two. Also going well early on was Gibernau, as he passed Biaggi and started to put the pressure on Hayden. Meanwhile, Rossi went back in front, while Barros and Edwards continued their progress at the expense of Ukawa.

While Rossi was setting the pace, Gibernau was keen to get by Hayden and join the lead battle. The Spaniard placed himself on the inside of his young rival in a left-hand bend, but Nicky held him back. However, the pressure seemed to get to the Repsol man, and his RCV spun away from him as the rear slid out and folded down. Hayden picked up the Honda and got it going as quickly as he could, but found himself twenty-third and last, with plenty to do.

With Checa passing Biaggi, the first five broke away in the order Rossi, Capirossi, Gibernau, Checa and Biaggi. The crowds were enjoying the form of their two local heroes, and became more vocal when, having just set the fastest lap, Gibernau passed Capirossi on the inside at a left-hander. It was clear that Rossi and Gibernau were a step ahead on the day, and these two began to make the race their own. The gap between them was about 0.6s, with Sete stalking his rival.

Behind, Biaggi dealt with Checa before Capirossi could get too far ahead, and the two Italians then chased after the two leaders, leaving Checa to drop away. Gibernau slipstreamed Rossi, overtaking on the inside for the left-handed first corner, sending the crowd wild, but it looked as if ‘the Doctor’ had let him through. As Capirossi and Biaggi were now right with them, Rossi repaid the favour a lap later, once again pulling Gibernau with him as they stretched away.

Sete set another lap record, and beyond half distance was still tracking Valentino. They now had about 3.5s in hand over third man Capirossi. At one point, Rossi had a good look back at the Telefónica rider, then broke the record himself in an effort to get clear. Gibernau took the record back, but Rossi responded again and, in his spectacular style, finally broke the Spaniard as he ran out to a 2.5s lead.

Having picked up another convincing win, Rossi performed a spectacular tyre burn out for the fans, whilst Gibernau collected a number 74 flag, in tribute to his late team-mate Daijiro Kato. Valentino then added an afro wig on his return to the pitlane. Capirossi secured his sixth podium finish for Ducati, having ultimately got away from Biaggi’s Camel Honda. Checa was in an equally solitary fifth at the flag.

The tussle for sixth had been between Barros and Edwards for a long time, with the Brazilian veteran finally putting a gap between the two machines. Edwards then fell victim to a resurgent Bayliss when, in a replay of their Superbike duelling, the Australian overtook at turn one before moving clear. In ninth place was the third of the Yamahas, Abe benefitting from an early incident between Ukawa and Nakano that put both his countrymen out.

Makoto Tamada came through on Noriyuki Haga, Olivier Jacque, Jeremy McWilliams and Kenny Roberts for tenth, with ‘OJ’ later taking a costly trip through the gravel. Roberts ended up eleventh, from McWilliams, while the second Suzuki of John Hopkins was next, after coming through from P15. Ryuichi Kiyonari was fourteenth, having dealt with the Kawasaki pair, among others, and he was followed home by Haga.

Hayden wound up just outside the points, in sixteenth, but still maintained his ‘rookie of the year’ status by two points from Bayliss. Nobuatsu Aoki, Andrew Pitt, Garry McCoy and de Gea completed the field, which had seen very few retirements.

For Valentino Rossi, the season had brought his third title in a row, but things may just be different in 2004. After the race, the announcement came that the champion had been released from his Honda contract. It is widely expected that he will be moving to Yamaha next season, quite possibly taking some of his crew with him. This will provide a new challenge, but might give his Honda rivals more of a chance. But it seems the Honda riding stable will be strengthened from other quarters...

Final standings, after sixteen races:
1 Valentino Rossi (Honda) · 357
2 Sete Gibernau (Honda) · 277
3 Max Biaggi (Honda) · 228
4 Loris Capirossi (Ducati) · 177
5 Nicky Hayden (Honda) · 130
6 Troy Bayliss (Ducati) · 128
7 Tohru Ukawa (Honda) · 123
7 Carlos Checa (Yamaha) · 123
9 Shin’ya Nakano (Yamaha) · 101
9 Alex Barros (Yamaha) · 101
11 Makoto Tamada (Honda) · 87
12 Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) · 71

Check in at this site for a full season review very soon.


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