Elias On Podium As Rain Throws Race Into Chaos -ozzy go- world.honda.com

This was the MotoGP contest that defined the season with Casey
Stoner securing his World MotoGP Championship title as Loris
Capirossi (both Ducati) won from Kawasaki’s Randy de Puniet with
Toni Elias (Gresini Honda RC212V) third in Japan.

In damp conditions after rain throughout the morning with an
ambient temperature of 21-degrees, a track at 24-degrees, and
perhaps most significantly 90% humidity reducing any likelihood
of the track drying quickly, this 24-lap race got underway.

It was poleman Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V) who
rocketed into an early lead with a fast-starting Elias taking the
fight to his fellow Spaniard leading the chasers with Nicky Hayden
(Repsol Honda RC212V) third early on and Stoner fifth.

Dani led lap two and Anthony West (Kawasaki), who revels in wet
conditions, had now jumped up to second in the early order. The
Aussie would later be penalized for a jump-start with a ride-
through penalty that would wreck his chances of what looked like
a possible shock win.

By lap four the order was West, Stoner, the rapid Marco Melandri
(Gresini Honda RC212V) now in third, Pedrosa, de Puniet and then
Valentino Rossi (Yamaha). But all was to change as the rain held
off and a dry line began to appear.

As West entered pitlane to serve his penalty, the rest of the
runners began to plan when – not if – they would have to do
likewise to change to spare bikes shod with different rubber;
either cut slick tyres (for the majority of riders) or full slick tyres
for those gambling on the track to dry fully and quickly.

Melandri now led the race as Carlos Checa (LCR Honda RC212V)
pitted first to swap bikes. Rossi lay third 3.7 seconds behind
Stoner in second and as the former World Champion set an early
fastest lap of the race, Hayden and Elias pitted while the rest of
the field circulated.

The risk of full-wet rubber deteriorating or disintegrating under
the drying conditions was now high but by lap ten neither
Melandri, Stoner nor Rossi had taken the plunge and sacrificed
those podium places for a bike change. Indeed, Rossi took Stoner
for second and then Melandri for the lead on lap 15.

Marco then pitted and so did Stoner as Dani Pedrosa crashed out
of the race while on wet tyres. Capirossi who had taken the
gamble of pitting early for slicks now led and the Italian man
would lead all the way to the flag now.

Rossi was in trouble with his brakes and pitted again before
emerging once more only to experience difficulties and drop way
out of contention for the podium. Capirossi would win this exciting
race from De Puniet and Elias while Sylvain Guintoli (Yamaha)
narrowly missed a podium in fourth as Melandri made fifth, 28
seconds off the leader.

Hayden managed ninth place in the turmoil while Shinya Nakano
(Konica Minolta Honda RC212V) couldn’t capitalise on the chaos
and fared no better than 16th. Checa ended up 18th and Kurtis
Roberts (Roberts KR212V) failed to finish, pitting permanently in
the early laps.

The destiny of the World Championship was concluded here in
Stoner’s favour. The Aussie now has an unassailable points lead
of 297 points. Dani now faces an uphill struggle to steal second
overall from Rossi. Dani has 188 points to Rossi’s 214.
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