Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Capirossi delighted with strong fifth

Italian veteran Loris Capirossi was delighted with the performance of his revitalised Suzuki GSV-R after finishing fifth in the Czech MotoGP, less than a second away from a podium position

Capirossi had shown promise all weekend following the addition of a new engine at Brno, and could have capitalised had Toni Elias and Andrea Dovizioso tripped over one another while fighting for third on the last lap.

"We have been able to fight the whole weekend and were nearly rewarded with a podium," said the 35-year-old.

"We had a big problem with chatter and we managed to resolve that for the race. We made the right choice of tyre today, but a couple of times I nearly lost the front which meant I didn't quite have the right feeling and that caused me to lose a bit of time.

"I managed to clean off the tyre by riding a bit less aggressive and then I was able to push again right until the end of the race.

"I lost out a bit to the other guys in front of me on acceleration and it was then difficult to overtake on the brakes because I was never quite close enough - even though I was faster through the corners."

Team-mate Chris Vermeulen was more frustrated with his 11th place result, having got caught in traffic at the start of the race.

"I got quite a good start, but on turn one I got blocked and was then passed by a few people - that's what you get I suppose when you start from the fourth row of the grid!" he said. "I then got pushed very wide on the first lap and lost a few more places.

"Everybody was going very quickly and it took me quite a few laps to get past the guys in front that I had more speed than and by then the main pack was well away in front.

"I am a bit disappointed with my own performance, I couldn't get down to the lap times I expected to do. I kept pushing till the end and gave it 100% and caught up to De Puniet and Toseland near the end, but there was not enough laps left to get past.

"We got some points from today, but it hasn't been a great weekend again for us. We have made a significant step with the bike and I am looking forward to the test tomorrow and then getting to some good tracks for me and Suzuki."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Edwards frustrated by new engine rules
Next article Lorenzo vows to redeem Brno error

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe