Honda makes history with 500th World Grand Prix victory at Suzuka

2001 FIM Grand Prix Series, Round 1: Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan, April 8, 2001

Honda Motor Company's dreams came true at Suzuka today as the world's biggest motorcycle manufacturer won all three GPs to record its 500th Grand Prix win.

The honor of scoring this dazzling landmark victory went to Honda's incredible young talent Valentino Rossi (Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500), after Daijiro Katoh (Telefonica Movistar Honda NSR250) and Masao Azuma (Li'eois Competition Honda RS125) had played their vital roles in winning the earlier 250 and 125 events.

The 500 race was a thriller, the front runners riding elbow to elbow around the high-speed Suzuka track, built in 1962 after Honda founder Soichiro Honda wisely decided that Japan needed its own world-class racetrack if the country was to produce world-class machinery and riders.

Pole sitter Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) led the first two laps before Garry McCoy (Yamaha) took over, while Rossi worked his way through from eighth, making contact with several of his rivals as the pack jostled for position. His most worrying moment came as he rocketed down the start-finish, rubbing elbows with Max Biaggi (Yamaha) and running onto the grass at over 200kmh. A lap later Rossi swept past his compatriot as they approached turn one, and calmly waved to Biaggi as he set about zeroing in on the leaders!

That same lap he passed Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) at Degner Curve and McCoy at Spoon Curve to take the lead, gradually stretching his advantage to over three seconds, allowing him to ease off over the final two laps. It was a masterful display from the 22-year-old, one of 60 Honda riders to win GPs since Australian Tom Phillis opened Honda's account by winning the 125 Spanish GP at Montjuich Park, Spain, on April 23 1961.

"This is the first time I ever had any luck at Suzuka," said Rossi, who has never scored a top-ten finish at Suzuka, despite racing 125s, 250s, 500s and Superbikes here since 1996. "Now I finally had some good luck and my thanks to Honda and my team. I've only won three GPs for Honda but now I will be in the history books!

"I got a good start but after a few laps I felt pretty tired, so I just kept pushing. I had a big fight with Nori (Haga, Yamaha), Alex (Barros, West Honda Pons) and Max and then finally I had the track to myself. I found it hard to pull away but suddenly I saw I had 3.5 seconds on everyone. I had a few scary moments touching other riders, including one time when I went on the grass! The 500 class is so tough now, no one wants you to overtake, especially guys like Haga, Barros and Biaggi. As soon as they see you, they let their brakes off!"

Barros was Honda's next finisher in sixth, running short of front grip in the later stages, but managing to stay ahead of reigning World Champion Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) and Capirossi. Former World Champion Alex Criville (Repsol YPF Honda NSR500) finished ninth while team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Repsol YPF Honda NSR500) was battered and bruised after crashing in the late stages of the race while chasing McCoy for second.

Honda's 250 hero Katoh has been in a class of his own since pre-season testing began and the Japanese starlet proved his superiority in the most devastating of ways at Suzuka today, running home first, almost 19 seconds ahead of his closest rivals. And that was despite his slowing down to celebrate as he approached the finish line.

Katoh had already qualified in stunning style, 1.132 seconds ahead of Marco Melandri (Aprilia), which gave him the biggest margin over second place since the 1995 Dutch GP when Max Biaggi (Aprilia) ended qualifying 1.148 seconds ahead of Harada (Yamaha). The youngster took it steady in the early stages of the race, moving from third to first in the first two laps, then steadily pulling away, never pressured and never needing to get even close to his speed in qualifying.

"The conditions were a bit windy, so I thought dust might get blown onto the track, making it slippery, so it took me a while to find my pace," said Katoh after his fifth GP win in Japan (that's four at Suzuka and one at Motegi). "I had no problems, though it's harder to keep your concentration when you're not in a battle."

Canny 125 star Azuma got Honda's great day off to a perfect start, winning a fast and fraught 125 race at the last gasp. Up to seven riders battled for the lead during the eight-lap conflict, Azuma one of the few not to lead until he drafted past Lucio Cecchinello's Aprilia as they headed down the back straight for the final time. The Japanese held his advantage to the line to win his eighth GP.

"I present this win to Honda staff, for their 500s wins," beamed Azuma. "If I didn't win, I thought they'd kill me! It was a difficult race. My bike wasn't so fast, so I had to use slipstream and wait for my moment."

Suzuka 500 World GP Results, Top Ten Finishers

1. Valentino ROSSI - ITA - Nastro Azzurro Honda

2. Garry McCOY - AUS - Red Bull Yamaha WCM Yamaha

3. Max BIAGGI - ITA - Marlboro Yamaha Team Yamaha

4. Norick ABE JPN - Antena 3 Yamaha d'Antin Yamaha

5. Shinya NAKANO - JPN - Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha

6. Alex BARROS - BRA - West Honda Pons Honda

7. Kenny ROBERTS Jr - USA - Telefonica Movistar Suzuki

8. Loris CAPIROSSI - ITA - West Honda Pons Honda

9. Alex CRIVILLE - SPA - Repsol YPF Honda Team Honda

10.Carlos CHECA - SPA - Marlboro Yamaha Team Yamaha

Suzuka 500 World GP Point Standings

1. Valentino Rossi 25 2. Garry McCoy 20 3. Max Biaggi 16 4. Norick Abe 13 5. Shinya Nakano 11 6. Alex Baros 10 7. Kenny Roberts, Jr 9 8. Loris Capirossi 8 9. Alex Criville 7 10. Carlos Checa 6

Upcoming rounds

Round 2 - April 22, Welkom, South Africa

Round 3 - May 6, Jerez, Spain

END