Honda's Rossi takes GP win while American Kenny Roberts Jr. wraps up 500cc GP title

10 October 2000
2000 FIM 500cc Grand Prix Series, Round 14: Nelson Piquet Circuit, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, October 7, 2000

Despite his status as a rookie in the 500 GP class, Nastro Azzurro Honda pilot
Valentino Rossi once again showed he will be a force to be reckoned with, taking
his second victory of the season here in Rio. The 21-year-old Italian, who
already has one title each in the 125 and 250 classes, fought off Emerson Honda
Pons rider Alex Barros. Of the Repsol Honda team riders, Sete Gibernau once
again finished best, taking seventh, with teammates Tadayuki Okada in ninth and
reigning world champion Alex Criville 11th. Today also saw Criville relinquish
any hope of retaining his title, as Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr.'s sixth-place
finish was good enough to take the championship.


Although Roberts clinched the title with two races to go, there's still plenty
of drama left this season, and it's all about the battle for second. With 50
points for two race wins in the remaining events, seven riders have a
mathematical chance to take second in the points chase: Rossi, McCoy, Checa,
Barros, Biaggi, Abe and Loris Capirossi. It's guaranteed to be a battle in Japan
and Australia in the next three weeks.


Brazilian 500 GP, Top Finishers


1. Valentino Rossi -- Honda


2. Alex Barros -- Honda


3. Garry McCoy -- Yamaha


4. Norick Abe -- Yamaha


5. Max Biaggi -- Yamaha


7. Sete Gibernau -- Honda


9. Tadayuki Okada -- Honda


11. Alex Criville -- Honda





FIM 500cc GP Points Standings


1. Kenny Roberts Jr. -- Suzuki -- 224 points


2. Valentino Rossi -- Honda -- 173 points


3. Garry McCoy -- Yamaha -- 150 points


4. Carlos Checa -- Yamaha -- 142 points


5. Alex Barros -- Honda -- 141 points


8. Loris Capirossi -- Honda -- 126 points


9. Alex Criville -- Honda -- 112 points


12. Tadayuki Okada -- Honda -- 94 points


14. Sete Gibernau -- Honda -- 68 points





Upcoming rounds:


Round 15 -- Twin Ring Motegi, Motegi, Japan, October 15


Final Round -- Phillip Island, Australia, October 29