dcp2433r.jpgLoris Capirossi completed a perfect weekend winning the Japanese Grand Prix from pole position, ahead of Valentino Rossi and Marco Melandri, finishing in the same positions they started.

Last year’s winner Capirossi made full use of his Ducati’s well developed launch control system, making a strong start aboard his Desmosedici GP6 to lead the field into the first corner. Melandri got away early to latch onto the Ducati’s tail but never threatened for the lead as Capirossi romped away to victory. Rossi settled into a safe 3rd position as the field began to spread out into distinct leading groups.

Tyre degradation eventually saw the young Italian fall into the clutches of 3rd placed Rossi who pounced on an opportunity at the chicane to take 2nd away from Melandri.

Championship leader Nicky Hayden had a weekend to forget, having started in 7th, and being relegated to 8th in the early stages of the race behind Toni Elias on the other Fortuna Honda. After taking a number of laps to get past the Spaniard, he found himself in the 2nd lead group chasing Gibernau and Nakano. Try as he might he was not able to close the gap on the Kawasaki and looked set to take a low 6th place to Rossi’s 2nd.

However a crash by Nakano on the final lap gifted 5th place to Hayden, as Nakano attempted an overtaking move on Gibernau, almost taking both riders out in the process.

But nothing would affect the outcome of the top 3, as Capirossi, Rossi and Melandri crossed the chequered line, completing an all Italian podium. Valentino Rossi now lies a mere 12 points behind the championship leader.

Race Classification after 24 laps

  1. 65 DUCATI Loris CAPIROSSI ITA 1 43′13.585 159.935 25 Ducati Marlboro Team
  2. 46 YAMAHA Valentino ROSSI ITA 2 43′18.673 159.622 5.088 20 Camel Yamaha Team
  3. 33 HONDA Marco MELANDRI ITA 3 43′21.963 159.420 8.378 16 Fortuna Honda
  4. 15 DUCATI Sete GIBERNAU SPA 4 43′23.297 159.338 9.712 13 Ducati Marlboro Team
  5. 69 HONDA Nicky HAYDEN USA 5 43′25.529 159.202 11.944 11 Repsol Honda Team
  6. 24 HONDA Toni ELIAS SPA 6 43′31.693 158.826 18.108 10 Fortuna Honda
  7. 26 HONDA Dani PEDROSA SPA 7 43′33.522 158.715 19.937 9 Repsol Honda Team
  8. 5 YAMAHA Colin EDWARDS USA 8 43′36.077 158.560 22.492 8 Camel Yamaha Team
  9. 10 KR211V Kenny ROBERTS JR USA 9 43′40.409 158.298 26.824 7 Team Roberts
  10. 6 HONDA Makoto TAMADA JPN 10 43′44.555 158.048 30.970 6 Konica Minolta Honda
  11. 71 SUZUKI Chris VERMEULEN AUS 11 43′52.848 157.550 39.263 5 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
  12. 21 SUZUKI John HOPKINS USA 12 43′53.025 157.539 39.440 4 Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
  13. 64 SUZUKI Kousuke AKIYOSHI JPN 13 43′59.180 157.172 45.595 3 Team Suzuki MotoGP
  14. 7 YAMAHA Carlos CHECA SPA 14 44′03.156 156.936 49.571 2 Tech 3 Yamaha
  15. 77 YAMAHA James ELLISON GBR 15 44′22.670 155.785 1′09.085 1 Tech 3 Yamaha
  16. 66 DUCATI Alex HOFMANN GER 16 44′25.333 155.630 1′11.748 Pramac d’Antín MotoGP

Not Classified
56 KAWASAKI Shinya NAKANO JPN 41′34.655 159.349 1 lap Kawasaki Racing Team
27 HONDA Casey STONER AUS 21′48.380 158.519 12 laps Honda LCR
17 KAWASAKI Randy DE PUNIET FRA 14′38.163 157.452 16 laps Kawasaki Racing Team
8 KAWASAKI Naoki MATSUDO JPN 14′51.515 155.094 16 laps Kawasaki
30 DUCATI Jose Luis CARDOSO SPA 2′01.020 142.816 23 laps Pramac d’Antín MotoGP

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Images courtesy of Ducati Marlboro Team