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MotoGP :Double podium joy for Yamaha at Laguna Seca
Round: 8 - Laguna Seca MotoGP
Circuit: Laguna Seca
Date: 10 July 2005
Crowd: 59000
Temp: 23ºC
Weather: Sunny
Yamaha Motor Company celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a double podium finish at Laguna Seca today, as Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi took second and third place respectively in the United States Grand Prix. Both riders played a starring role in the eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship and enjoyed a thrilling battle for the final two rostrum positions that went to the last lap of a race won by Nicky Hayden (Honda). Whilst Hayden got an electric start from pole position, both Rossi and Edwards were baulked in their attempts to give chase on the opening lap. Having started from second on the grid, Rossi made it back to the same position by the end of the first lap after a battle with Troy Bayliss (Honda), whilst Edwards was forced to fight his way through the pack after being forced back to seventh in a combative first-corner clash.
With Hayden clear at the front, Rossi rode alone in second place until he was caught by his American team-mate on the sixteenth lap, when Edwards lined up an inch-perfect pass into the famous Corkscrew corner. After briefly closing down the gap to Hayden, Edwards suffered from tyre wear in the closing stages and was happy to settle for a second consecutive podium finish. Third place for Rossi extends his advantage at the top of the championship to 79 points over Marco Melandri (Honda), who crashed out on the first lap.
Both Fortuna Yamaha riders at least scored some points. When Ruben Xaus recovered from a bad start he settled into his normal rhythm and finished in 11th position. Toni Elias was unable to show his full potential at the famous but physically hard track due to the pain in his injured left wrist. Still the young Spaniard was satisfied with the three points he scored finishing his first race in almost two months in 13th position.
Colin Edwards (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 2nd "I made another bad start and ended up with two riders making a sandwich of me into turn one. They had my handlebars on each side and just carried me into the corner so I thought it was going to end in a big mess. Once I got clear of the group I got my head down and pushed as hard as I could to pass Valentino. At that point I still had something left to try and catch Nicky but every time I closed the gap he responded, so hats off to him. When the tyres went off I was just hanging on to finish the race. I knew I had an advantage of around two seconds over Valentino but on the last lap I looked at my board and it said 0.6. I guessed it must be a mistake but I then looked over my shoulder in turn two and he was right there! I thought "oh no, not on the last lap!" I gave everything I had left to hold him off and came close to crashing a few times so second place is really pleasing."
Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Yamaha Team) 3rd "I lost some time during practice trying to learn the circuit so the bike was not at 100% today, and also our tyre choice was not perfect. Anyway, Nicky rode very hard and it was impossible to catch him today. I knew Colin was coming but I didn't realise how close he was and he caught me by surprise in the Corkscrew. I lost some time there but at the end he lost some of his rhythm and I tried to catch him. He turned around to look at me and I said: "Hello, I am here!" I thought maybe to attack on the last lap but then I had a vision of both Yamahas in the dirt so decided third place was okay, especially for the championship! Anyway, I am very happy because I expected this to be the hardest race of the season but I am the fastest European rider here and I fought with the Americans. I have learnt a lot to try and beat them next year! "
Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director "It has been a very good weekend for us and to have both riders together on the podium for the third time this year is a nice way to celebrate Yamaha's 50th Anniversary. It is great to see the yellow, white and black colours on the podium after so many years, but most importantly we have seen Valentino extend his advantage at the top of the championship and Colin get much closer to the top. It has been a positive Grand Prix in every aspect for us. We have also enjoyed the experience of being in California, and we look forward to coming back next year."
Ruben Xaus (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 11th Practice was unsatisfying for Rubén Xaus, who complained of being unable to show his talent and experience at the Californian track. After the race the team congratulated him nonetheless, "They did so because we keep picking up points. I got a bad start and sometimes starting from the back can be a hairy. The first corner is a bit dangerous and I tried to stay calm. After the mediocre practice sessions I had, to start from the back doesn't do wonders for your confidence. Anyway, the first five laps again were the problem. When I got past Rolfo (Ducati), who was holding me up a bit, I was able to ride at my potential rhythm of about a second slower than the leaders. The YZR-M1 reveals its secrets slowly to me, so it's hard work, but everybody in the team remains calm. We support each other through thick and thin. For now I'll have to be content with the Superbike race I won here in 2003."
Toni Elias (Fortuna Yamaha Team) 13th "I'm satisfied. We faced a difficult weekend and at least we will take home three points. The race was so tough. My wrist was hurting a lot after four laps. I think the sedation we injected didn't work as it should have. It was important to finish though, and I hung on behind Hofmann (Kawasaki). This is a legendary track, and I'm happy to race here, which has been one of my dreams and that is another reason to be satisfied. However we need to improve. I want to return next year and give it all when I'm in top shape, so I can show a better result then this year."
Race classification MotoGP
Round: 8 - Laguna Seca MotoGP
Circuit: Laguna Seca
Circuit Length: 3610
Lap Record: 1' 23.915 (Colin Edwards, 2005)
Fastest Lap Ever: 1' 22.670 (Nicky Hayden, 2005)
