above: Rossi on the 2004 Gauloises Yamaha - photo © Elliot L Doering

The Italian Grand Prix attracts the fans in droves, with the Mugello circuit scene of five GP wins for Rossi, three for Biaggi, two for Capirossi, and one for Melandri. In the last three years the MotoGP class race has gone to Rossi on his way to successive title victories. The track itself is rapid, with flowing corners leading to more flowing corners, downhill braking zones, and a super fast and long start-finish straight, where the bikes reach their highest speeds.

Qualifying proved that there is very little to choose between the best riders and their bikes, as the top twelve were within a second on lap times. Taking his third pole of the year was World Champion Rossi, on the Gauloises Yamaha, with three Honda RCV riders hot on his heels. Second man Sete Gibernau had his MoviStar bike on the front row for the fourth time in five appearances, then came the works Repsol bikes of Biaggi and Nicky Hayden. For Max, this was a return to form after four outings off the first two rows.

John Hopkins was once again the lead man for Suzuki, as he has been all year, and would start fifth. Then came Loris Capirossi for Ducati, with team-mate Carlos Checa eighth. Between them, Melandri was the fourth Honda man, with seventh his worst grid slot so far this year. Shin’ya Nakano was ninth for Kawasaki, ahead of the returning Makoto Tamada’s JIR Honda, Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) and Colin Edwards (Yamaha).

The Camel/Pons Hondas of Alex Barros and Troy Bayliss were way down, respectively in 13th and 17th, with Alex Hofmann (returning for Kawasaki), Rubén Xaus (Yamaha), and David Checa (substituting for Toní Elías) between them. Shane Byrne (Proton-KTM), Roberto Rolfo (Ducati), James Ellison and Franco Battaini (both WCM) completed the runners.

The conditions were hot and bright for the race, with Capirossi getting the best start to come around Gibernau for the lead at turn one, a right-hander. Checa was third, from Rossi, Biaggi, Melandri, Hopkins, Hayden and Nakano. But Rossi was in no mood to sit in fourth, and quickly passed Checa at the Casanova right-hander (turn six), before also moving past Gibernau at Correntaio (or turn twelve), a looping right. Valentino quickly added Capirossi to the list, as Sete followed him past the Ducati man.

Positions shuffled further at turn one for the second lap, with Melandri arriving on the inside line and braking very late to get ahead of Capirossi and Gibernau, and slot in behind Rossi. Sete went wide in the corner, putting himself back to fourth, but re-passed Capirossi through the next section. Checa was now fifth, from Biaggi, Hayden and Hopkins, but Max would soon be past Carlos and then Loris as he looked to get up to the front.

Rossi started trying to pull away in the lead, but only for Melandri to go with him. These two moved clear of Gibernau and the rest and, in fact, it was Melandri who broke the lap record as he kept on terms with the leader. The next group consisted of Gibernau, Biaggi, Capirossi, Checa and Hayden, with Barros emerging in eighth. As the pursuers looked likely to fall behind, Biaggi made a move on Gibernau at turn one. The Spaniard tried to fight back, but Max kept in front, and soon started to chase clear of the group. The fans had an Italian one-two-three to savour.

Clear air developed between Rossi and Melandri, as the leader improved the best lap time, whilst Biaggi began to catch his Honda rival. The fastest lap now went to Max as he caught Marco and began to look for a pass. Meanwhile, Capirossi overtook Gibernau at turn one, as the Spaniard looked to be off the pace for some reason. Before long he wouldn’t have that to worry about, as the Honda slid down and spun him out of the race. The chance for Sete to get into the title race now seemed somewhat remote.

However, the fans still had plenty to get excited about. Biaggi had passed Melandri downhill into a right-hander, and begun to chase after Rossi. Marco tried to recover the place with another late-braking move at turn one, but this time sent himself too wide, and lost out again. Biaggi brought Rossi’s lead down from one second to 0.5s, and Melandri went with him. Capirossi, fourth of the Italians and fourth in the race, had by now got clear of those behind him.

The first three were together as Melandri now made his big move. Once again going for the brakes last on the inside at turn one, he slid the rear as he got the bike turned, having passed both Biaggi and Rossi. Marco had forced himself wide in the process, so that Valentino could fight back, but the Honda man stayed on terms and was on the inside at the next left, taking the lead. As the younger man led, Biaggi tried to get second from Rossi at turn one, once again going inside but sending himself too wide in the corner.

Melandri’s turn up front proved fairly short-lived, as Rossi repaid the compliment. Then Biaggi had a go at Melandri at turn one, getting the verdict when Marco ran wide. Rossi led Biaggi, with Melandri still close, but now Capirossi was catching the group. Before long, this bunch resolved into a pair of two-man battles, as Loris joined Marco, while the other two gained some ground. Biaggi tried to pass Rossi at turn one, whilst Capirossi threatened Melandri.

Biaggi made a successful bid for first place when he dived through on the inside of Rossi at a left-hander. But nothing was yet settled, and soon the home fans had the sight of four Italian riders virtually together as they led the field. At one point there was some concern when Rossi had to slow suddenly, to avoid going into the back of Biaggi, but ‘the Doctor’ kept control, and now the first two finally moved out of range of Melandri and Capirossi.

In the final stages, Rossi re-took the lead from Biaggi, and looked like he would now pull away. The Roman kept his rival’s margin at a minimum, but would not find another chance to try a pass. So Rossi took his 72nd GP win, and Biaggi his 56th podium in the top class. Meanwhile, Capirossi had been fighting hard for a podium finish. His first try sent him wide at turn one, but then he pulled ahead over the line. Melandri was inside for turn one, though, and completed the pass at turn two.

Onto the final lap, Capirossi was ahead as they crossed the line, and this time Melandri went wide as he tried to recover the place at turn one. He had another go at the Ducati in the left looping final Bucine turn, but again sent himself wide, so that Loris took third and Marco had to follow him home. The final stages had seen Checa close back in on Hayden, who had been alone in fifth by half distance. Carlos regained the position towards the finish, with Nicky sixth and then Barros.

Tamada and Edwards had come through to beat Nakano and Hopkins home, although Colin had led Makoto for a time before ending up ninth. Hofmann was twelfth, with points also going to Bayliss, Xaus and Roberts, ahead of Byrne, Rolfo, Battaini and the other Checa. Ellison was the only non-finisher besides Gibernau, with the English rider’s engine a very early casualty. The WCM team still hope to get the Blata V6 engine into the bike before too long.

Valentino Rossi’s celebration paid tribute to his recently awarded honorary doctorate from Urbino, also depicted on his helmet design, as he wore a special mortar board hat. With four wins and a second, he now leads the championship by an amazing 49 points. Sete Gibernau’s second non-finish dropped him to fourth, whilst team-mate Marco Melandri kept up a run of thirds and fourths to hold onto second. Max Biaggi, after his best race of the season to date, closed in to just four adrift, and Loris Capirossi also recorded his best 2005 result.

Standings after five races: Rossi 120; Melandri 71; Biaggi 67; Gibernau 53; Barros 52; Edwards 48; Capirossi 39; Hayden 36; Nakano 33; Checa 28; Jacque 25; Bayliss 24.

In other Grand Prix news, MotoGP rule changes for the 2007 season have been announced, at which stage engine capacity will be reduced from 990cc to 800cc, and maximum race fuel will be set at 21 litres.

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