Macoto Tamada of Japan, riding a Honda, clinched his first MotoGP victory on Sunday after the two championship front-runners fell off their bikes early in the race.
Champion Valentino Rossi, who had won on his six previous visits to Rio, and Spain's Sete Gibernau both fell on the bumpy track of the Nelson Piquet circuit but remained on top of the standings with 126 points apiece.
Tamada's Camel Honda team mate Max Biaggi of Italy, seen as an arch rival to his compatriot Rossi, finished second and was followed by American Nicky Hayden, also on a Honda. With the three Honda riders on the podium, the factory overtook Yamaha in the constructors' standings.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Italian Loris Capirossi on a Ducati came fourth.
Tamada, who made his debut in motorcycling Grand Prix races only last year, said his Bridgestone tyres adapted well to the heat of the circuit. The weekend in Rio was unusually hot and cloudless for the Brazilian winter.
"A perfect race, with the bike settings and the tyres as good as they could possibly be," said Tamada, who started from the seventh position. His success ended French tyremaker Michelin's remarkable run of 92 premier-class victories.
Biaggi congratulated Tamada, calling him "a true friend." He said his own 20 points for the race "are really worth a lot for the championship ... but now I want to get back on to the top of the podium."
Rossi said: "Our bike set-up wasn't quite right."
Gibernau missed the podium for the first time this year.
In the 125cc, Spaniard Hector Barbera steered his Aprilia to victory from pole position after a final-lap struggle with Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso from Italy and Australian Casey Stoner on a KTM. Stoner finished second.
Despite finishing third, Dovizioso maintained his lead in the championship with 125 points, while Barbera took the second place with 109 points, rising from third spot.
Manuel Poggiali of San Marino finished first in the 250cc class on his Aprilia and was followed by Spaniards Daniel Pedrosa and Toni Elias, both on Hondas.
Randy de Puniet of France, riding an Aprilia, finished a disappointing eighth and lost his lead in the championship to Pedrosa, who finished second on Sunday and has accumulated 130 points against de Puniet's 119.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS