Catalunya - Race
Another race is behind us, after a long break between qualification and race it was expected that riders will take first few laps to re-learn tract again. But it wasn't a problem for Johhny Rea, who fle to 3rd on first lap. However, fast learner was Dani also, who got from 4th to 1st in 2nd and 3rd lap. Hopkins was unlucky as his engine failed on the start so he had to withdraw.
On 3rd lap, Saarinen retired and that left 15 riders in 2 seconds a lot of fighting was done on the track. On lap 6 Pedrosa was leading, 0.4 ahead of Rossi, whose charging teammate was on his back. Those 3 were going away of the rest of the field by 0.4 seconds per lap.
On lap 8, Lorenzo took second, but Pedrosa was to fast at this point and in couple of laps he made 2 seconds lead. At the same time Aprillia duo was closing on Arrows when on lap 13 Tessari's engine failed. Baz made a big mistake and was of the bike for few second but managed to keep going.
On lap 14 greatest battle of the race started, between 2 Arrow's riders and Byrne on Aprillia. They were overtaking each other on every lap until lap 19. Byrne got 2nd in sector 1 and flew away into the distance before the big straight. THat was the last time anyone saw him.
At this point pedrosa had 6 seconds lead, with 6 laps to go it was clear that he could go 1 second slower and still win the race. But on lap 22 his pace advantage was explained with to much for Yamah's tank, he was out of fuel and in tears by the track.
On next lap another Spaniard, Lorenzo out-broke himself at turn 4 and he was lucky to stay on the bike but still lost 5 seconds. That mistake and overreving through gravel later costed him finish as he was just short of fuel on last lap. Capirossi was on the charge in last laps and almost took 2nd, but Rossi parked the bike on turn 10 and prevented that. So it was Byrne winning, 2 seconds ahead of Rossi-Capirossi duo, with Stoner who got 4th although he was nowhere through the race.
Standings will be updated later
