Honda’s Valentino Rossi has won his third consecutive 500cc world motorcycle Grand Prix, equalling a record set by five-time world champion Mick Doohan. The Italian equalled the record by winning round three of this year's series at Jerez in southern Spain, with Norick Abe of Japan second and Spaniard Alex Criville third.
Rossi started in pole position, but fell behind to Abe on lap 14. He regained the lead on lap 21 and retained it all the way to win by over 2 seconds. Abe, on a Yamaha, finished second after holding off an intense challenge on the final lap from Alex Criville. The Spanish Honda rider took third, to the cheers of the local crowd, after qualifying back in 12th place on the grid. At the same meeting, Japan's Daijiro Katoh produced another flawless ride to land his third win in the 250cc category. And fellow Japanese Masao Azuma, riding a Honda, secured his second victory of the season in the 125cc race.
500cc World Championship - Spanish GP results: 1) Valentino Rossi (Ita) Honda 47 mins 15.126 secs; 2) Norick Abe (Jpn) Yamaha, 47:17.433; 3) Alex Criville (Spa) Honda, 47:17.971; 4) Shinya Nakano (Jap) Yamaha, 47:19.293; 5) Tohru Ukawa (Jap) Honda, 47:21.058; Standings: 1) Rossi 75 points; 2) Abe 44; 3) Nakano 37; 4) Capirossi 36; 5) Criville 33
250cc race top three: 1) Dajiro Katoh (Jap) Honda, 43 mins 49.748 secs; 2) Tetsuya Harada (Jap) Aprilia, 44:01.537; 3) Marco Melandri (Ita) Aprilia, 44:07.083; Standings: 1) Katoh, 75 points; 2) Harada, 56; 3) Melandri, 46
125cc race top three: 1) Masao Azuma (Jap) Honda, 42 mins 9.849 secs; 2) Lucio Cecchinello (Ita) Aprilia, 42:14.472; 3) Gino Borsoi (Ita) Aprilia, 42:15.602; Standings: 1) Azuma, 56 points; 2) Youichi Ui (Jap) Derbi, 45; 3) Borsoi, 42
Filed by Pat Nugent
