Post by idontknowwhat on Oct 21, 2004 23:32:31 GMT -5
Australian Moto GP
Viva Valentino
By ROBERT GRANT
October 18, 2004
VALENTINO Rossi cemented his place as motorcycle racing's modern-day icon when he emerged from an irresistible duel with Sete Gibernau to seize a fourth premier class world championship yesterday.
Rossi and Gibernau passed and repassed each other in the final lap of the Australian Grand Prix before the Italian stole the lead with seconds remaining to win.
They fought out a lone battle away from the pack, threatening, then toying with each other before Rossi chose the perfect moment to flash past and take the checkered flag, one-tenth of a second clear of the Spanish Honda rider.
Italian Loris Capirossi secured the first podium finish for Ducati this year when he took third place in the 27-lap race.
Rossi, 25, now has three MotoGP world titles and one each in the 500cc class which preceded it, the 250cc and 125cc categories.
This win marked his 100th appearance on the podium and was his fourth straight victory at Phillip Island. Few thought at the start of the year that even Rossi's brilliance could turn the belligerent Yamaha into a world-beating MotoGP bike.
He had left the sanctuary of Honda because he needed a new challenge.
Now Rossi becomes only the second rider in history to win consecutive premier class titles on different bikes after Eddie Lawson won in 1988 on a Yamaha and in 1989 on a Honda.
He is the seventh rider to claim four or more premier class world championships, and the statistics accompanying his rise tell an even more impressive story.
Rossi's percentage of victories, podium finishes and points per start are all unparalleled in the sport's modern era, since 1975.
It was also a banner day for Yamaha, which celebrated its first world title at the top level since American Wayne Rainey in 1992.
Rossi was typically ebullient after the win, which he sealed following one of the most intense and enthralling battles of the season.
"It was a fantastic finish to a fantastic championship," Rossi said.
Of all his world titles, he chose this one as the standout.
"It was a great battle with the others, especially with Gibernau," Rossi said. "Every championship has another story and feeling, the first one the emotion is incredible, but about performance and level, this one for me is the best."
Gibernau led away from pole position with Rossi fourth before the Italian slotted into second place, seemingly content to remain there and secure the world title by the conservative route.
"I thought I would wait and stay behind but with less fuel the bike gave me a very good feeling," Rossi said. "I tried one time to overtake him but he came back, then the last lap was incredible. I made a mistake in the hairpin and Sete overtook me, then a few more times – it was unbelievable."
dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=2103408
Viva Valentino
By ROBERT GRANT
October 18, 2004
VALENTINO Rossi cemented his place as motorcycle racing's modern-day icon when he emerged from an irresistible duel with Sete Gibernau to seize a fourth premier class world championship yesterday.
Rossi and Gibernau passed and repassed each other in the final lap of the Australian Grand Prix before the Italian stole the lead with seconds remaining to win.
They fought out a lone battle away from the pack, threatening, then toying with each other before Rossi chose the perfect moment to flash past and take the checkered flag, one-tenth of a second clear of the Spanish Honda rider.
Italian Loris Capirossi secured the first podium finish for Ducati this year when he took third place in the 27-lap race.
Rossi, 25, now has three MotoGP world titles and one each in the 500cc class which preceded it, the 250cc and 125cc categories.
This win marked his 100th appearance on the podium and was his fourth straight victory at Phillip Island. Few thought at the start of the year that even Rossi's brilliance could turn the belligerent Yamaha into a world-beating MotoGP bike.
He had left the sanctuary of Honda because he needed a new challenge.
Now Rossi becomes only the second rider in history to win consecutive premier class titles on different bikes after Eddie Lawson won in 1988 on a Yamaha and in 1989 on a Honda.
He is the seventh rider to claim four or more premier class world championships, and the statistics accompanying his rise tell an even more impressive story.
Rossi's percentage of victories, podium finishes and points per start are all unparalleled in the sport's modern era, since 1975.
It was also a banner day for Yamaha, which celebrated its first world title at the top level since American Wayne Rainey in 1992.
Rossi was typically ebullient after the win, which he sealed following one of the most intense and enthralling battles of the season.
"It was a fantastic finish to a fantastic championship," Rossi said.
Of all his world titles, he chose this one as the standout.
"It was a great battle with the others, especially with Gibernau," Rossi said. "Every championship has another story and feeling, the first one the emotion is incredible, but about performance and level, this one for me is the best."
Gibernau led away from pole position with Rossi fourth before the Italian slotted into second place, seemingly content to remain there and secure the world title by the conservative route.
"I thought I would wait and stay behind but with less fuel the bike gave me a very good feeling," Rossi said. "I tried one time to overtake him but he came back, then the last lap was incredible. I made a mistake in the hairpin and Sete overtook me, then a few more times – it was unbelievable."
dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=2103408
