DIFFICULT WEEKEND FOR TEAM HONDA GRESINI
MELANDRI TAKES TOP TEN FINISH AT ASSEN AS TONI ELIAS
HEADS TO SPAIN BY AIR AMBULANCE
 After
a good qualifying practice in wet conditions, which had allowed
Marco Melandri to start the Dutch TT from the second row of
the grid, the Gresini Honda was unable to repeat his result
in the race as problems that had bothered him all weekend
returned in the dry conditions.
Marco made a good start and was in fourth place in the early
stages of the race but quickly began to lose positions before
ending up tenth. Nevertheless the Team Gresini Honda rider
remains sixth in the championship on 87 points, just one behind
Chris Vermeulen in fifth.
Toni Elias returned home to Barcelona late this morning on
a private jet, escorted by two of Doctor Xavier Mir's medical
staff. The Spaniard headed straight to the famed Dexeus Institute
to be assessed before continuing with his recovery at home.
MARCO MELANDRI (10th in the race, 6th in the championship
on 87 points): "I got a good start but the problems
we had in practice on dry conditions returned and I couldn't
ride as I wanted. I had so much chattering and it was really
hard for me. I gave it my best shot but the end result is
disappointing."
FAUSTO GRESINI, Team Manager: "It's
been a really difficult weekend for us - firstly because of
the injury to Toni, who I would like to personally wish a
speedy recovery. He received good treatment to the injury
here in Holland and went back to Spain this morning. It was
tough for Marco, who rode really well in the wet but struggled
in the dry during practice and warm-up. The result reflects
the problems we had throughout practice."
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