YAMAHA CLINCHES CONSTRUCTORS’ CROWN WITH ROSSI’S
11TH WIN
Yamaha completed a clean sweep for 2005 today as the Constructors’
World Championship was added to the Riders’ and Teams’
titles thanks to Valentino Rossi’s eleventh win of the
season at Phillip Island. The Gauloises Yamaha Team rider
held off a strong challenge from Nicky Hayden (Honda) to continue
his undefeated run at this circuit, which stretches back to
2001. Rossi started well from second on the grid and chased
pole setter Hayden over the opening two laps before taking
the lead and making several attempts to escape. However the
American hung on and was presented with the opportunity to
retake the lead when Rossi dropped the pace at the halfway
stage. After studying Hayden for three laps, Rossi regained
control on lap nineteen and managed to open out a one-second
cushion as Hayden became embroiled in a scrap with Marco Melandri
(Honda). Hayden eventually got the better of the Italian but
Rossi was able to control his lead until the end of the race,
winning by 1.007 seconds. Colin Edwards remains in the hunt
for second in the riders’ championship after a battling
sixth place finish today. The Texan had struggled all weekend
to match the excellent pace he found here during pre-season
testing and was unable to hang on to the front group after
starting from fifth on the grid. Edwards now lies in fourth
place overall, eight points behind Hayden and Melandri, who
are tied for second with two rounds remaining.
VALENTINO ROSSI (1st – 41’08.542)
“It has been an amazing season and today we have won
the constructors’ title for Yamaha in the year of their
50th Anniversary, so I am very happy. Congratulations to everybody.
Eleven wins in the year matches my own record and to do it
at Phillip Island is very special for me. I have won a lot
of important races here, especially the 2001 500cc title and
the title last year for Yamaha and it is a magic track for
me – I love it. Today was tough, I had a great rival
in Nicky Hayden and it was a great race. I got to the front
after two laps and had a good rhythm so I pushed two or three
times to escape. Every time Nicky came with me so I let him
pass me just to see how it was. Then some more riders arrived
so I tried again and this time I managed to get a one second
advantage, which was like gold! I managed to hold it until
the last lap and to celebrate the win in front of this great
crowd is always a magnificent pleasure. Thank you to them
and to everybody else who has made this season so special.”
COLIN EDWARDS (6th – +33.200)
“That wasn’t great. We’ve been chasing
our tail a little bit all weekend with the set-up and unfortunately
we ran out of time and ideas. In the winter everything seemed
okay here but this time we’ve been playing catch-up.
In the end we went towards Valentino’s setting, which
was obviously working well for him, but for me it was just
spinning up too much, even with the front wheel off the ground,
which isn’t normal. I want to thank the whole team for
their hard work and congratulate Yamaha for the constructors’
title. It’s just a shame it didn’t work out for
me today.”
JEREMY BURGESS – VALENTINO ROSSI’S CREW
CHIEF
“It’s been a good weekend for us, starting off
with some fast and consistent times on Friday and Saturday
and then staying in good shape as the other riders got better
in the build-up to the race. Valentino controlled the race
today and gave another example of why he is World Champion
– he rides with his head as much as his wrist. It was
nice for the Australian guys in the team to win their home
race but more than that we are delighted for Yamaha to win
the constructors’ title. It was our only remaining target
for the season so now we can look forward to the last two
rounds and see what comes up.”
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