US GRAND PRIX
Laguna Seca
THIRD STRAIGHT PODIUM FOR MARCO MELANDRI
Marco finishes third in punishing race.
The suffering heat that has been present throughout the three
days of the US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca made things tough
for the MotoGP field today but FORTUNA HONDA rider Marco Melandri
came through it with a creditable third place finish, a result
that moves him up to third in the overall standings on 150
points.
Despite the tough conditions Marco's great physical shape
kept him going to the end and he was able to make the most
of the great job done by his mechanics to set the bike up
during practice.
His team-mate Toni Elias, still suffering from shoulder problems,
struggled in the difficult conditions and finished fifteenth.
The next round takes place in the Czech Republic on August
20.
MARCO MELANDRI (3rd in the race, 3rd in the standings
on 150 points): "It was a really tough race
for me because I still haven't fully recovered from my injuries
from Catalunya. I got away well but it was hard at the start
to keep the pace up. From lap 15 my feeling with the bike
improved and i was able to make a few positions up. I was
faster in the second half of the race. This is a very good
result for me and I think we've done a good job in the first
half of the season. Hopefully I can be back on the podium
at Brno!"
TONI ELIAS (15th in the race, 12th in the standings
on 59 points): "It was a really tough race.
The heat and my shoulder made things really hard. I got a
bad start but lapped with the Ducatis and Carlos Checa but
ran off track in the Corkscrew on lap 15 and fell. I got back
in the race but was down in fifteenth place. Now I have chance
for the rest I really need before the next round at. Hopefully
I can be back to 100% at Brno"
MOTOGP RACE
1. N.Hayden (Usa/Honda)
2. D.Pedrosa (Sp/Honda)
3.M.MELANDRI (Ita/Honda)
....
15. T.Elias (Sp/Honda)
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