PRESS RELEASE
BRITISH GP, Donington - Race Results - July 24, 2005
REPSOL HONDA RIDERS STRUCK BY DOWNPOURS AT DONINGTON
Weekend Crowd Attendance: 118,183
In a race run in torrential rain, both Repsol Honda riders, Nicky Hayden and team-mate Max Biaggi crashed out uninjured in the early laps in front of 75,000 drenched fans at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Only 11 of the 21-rider field completed the full race distance on a dismal day.
The weather was always going to be a key factor over the weekend. Friday there was mist and drizzle, yesterday it cleared up and this morning in the warm-up it was damp with 75% moisture in the air. Biaggi ended the 20-minute session sixth fastest with Hayden 10th.
The predicted rain arrived during the 125cc race and at 3.30pm when the 21-rider field set off for the 30-lap race it was raining torrentially which made for a straight forward tyre choice for the Repsol men; full Michelin wets.
Biaggi, starting from the third row of the grid for the third consecutive race, made a good start and was up to fifth place before slipping off. The 34-year-old remounted and rejoined the race in last position before crashing out again three laps later.
Hayden also fell victim to the treacherous conditions. The winner of the last GP slipped off at left hand Gerrards on the second lap. The 23-year-old's RC211V broke its handle bar and he was forced to retire.
With five of the seven Honda riders crashing out it was left to Alex Barros to salvage some Honda pride by finishing on the podium in third place in his 250th GP appearance behind race winner Valentino Rossi and runner-up Kenny Roberts.
Makoto Tanaka, Repsol Honda Team Manager
"A race in conditions like this is really a lottery and it is very hard to accept that both our riders crash out and that we have no points from this weekend. It is a great shame as both Hayden and Biaggi seemed to have a good set-up in the damp conditions this morning and couldn't take advantage of them just when we had such a good momentum with both riders from recent races."
Max Biaggi
Position: DNF - Best lap: 1m 52.942s
Front: 16.5" wet Michelin
Rear: 16.5" wet Michelin
"In the sighting lap we had absolutely no traction. In the five-minute stop before the race we made some adjustments but it seemed to make no difference. We had spinning in the straight - in second, third and fourth gears. It was strange to have no feeling. I made a good start but very soon crashed out. I managed to get back on but then fell again. I feel very sorry for my team, as I know they work so hard and I couldn't repay them. All I can say is I will come back strong at the Sachsenring."
Nicky Hayden
Position: DNF - Best lap: 2m 00.40s
Front: 16.5" wet Michelin
Rear: 16.5" wet Michelin
"I got a terrible start and in the first lap or two had a few guys crash right in front of me. I only just avoided Biaggi and Xaus. I made a mistake in the Melbourne loop and ran a bit wide but generally in the opening few laps the bike felt pretty good. I just wanted to get into a good rythmn but just didn't get time. I'm mad at myself for crashing at that corner. I almost crashed there myself this morning and I watched lots of guys crashing there in earlier races. It was just so slippery. It was so quick and I was down. Unfortunatly I broke the handlebar – it was an easy crash. It's frustrating being so high from the last race and so low from this one. It's a cruel game sometimes."