Image 16 of 26 from MotoGP Rd 3 - Rossi wins rain-swept Chinese GP

Marco Melandri is showing the benefits of consistency - his third place has now netted him second place overall in the title chase - from two thirds and a fourth place.

Marco Melandri is showing the benefits of consistency - his third place has now netted him second place overall in the title chase - from two thirds and a fourth place.
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Image 1 of 26 from MotoGP Rd 3 - Rossi wins rain-swept Chinese GP Valentino Rossi leads Toni Elias and John Hopkins in the early stages of the race - Elias had a ride-through penalty to ruin his chances of a good result Colin Edwards' Yamaha leads Ruben Xaus' Yamaha ahead of Nakano and Battaini - Edwards was ninth, Xaus tenth. Valentino is obviously thrilled that his friend Olivier Jacque has finished second. After the race Rossi said:
Valentino explores the pits in Shanghai Alex Barros dominated practice but the wet weather. Seventh in the early stages, his race was ruined by a ride through penalty. Barros soldiered on from his ride through for eleventh place and now holds third place in the championship points table, albeit 27 points in arrears of Rossi John Hopkins leads sete Gibernau in the early race with Van Der Goorbergh showing his Dutch heritage by riding well in the rain.
A call-up out of the blue and a two race contract were the setting for what almost turned out to be a fairy-tale finish. Olivier Jacque closed down Rossi in the rain but failed to catch him by the narrowest of margins Jacque passes Biaggi for fourth and sets out after Gibernau for third. One very happy Frenchman - Olivier Jacque after the race Jurgen van den Goorbergh made the most of his opportunity on the Konica Minolta Honda RC211V when Makoto Tamada broke his wrist.
Another podium with Sete Gibernau - Rossi in the centre, Melandri at right and Jacque at left. The first lap charge with Hopkins, Melandri, Gibernau, Roberts and Rossi fighting through the spray Lap three and Kenny Roberts leads the GP, ahead of Rossi, Elias, Biaggi, Gibernau and Hopkins Marco Melandri is showing the benefits of consistency - his third place has now netted him second place overall in the title chase - from two thirds and a fourth place.
Biaggi showed spirit in the rain for fifth place - he now holds fourth in the title chase with 36 points Roberts leads on lap two with Valentino close behind. machanical gramlins cost him the best chance he'd had at a win in four years Shinya Nakano celebrated his 100th Grand Prix start but had a bad day overall. Nicky Hayden and Troy Bayliss both had days they would rather forget.
Loris Capirossi with John Hopkins and Colin Edwards in close company Gibernau, Biaggi, Melandri, Hopkins and olivier Jacque in the early laps Some days, having 250 horsepower is not all that much fun. Kenny Roberts attempts to get some power on the tarmac. Gibernau was unlicky to slip two places in the final laps, costing him valuable points - it was a shame the track wasn't dry as Gibernau and Rossi would have had a closer race.
Tohru Ukawa rode the Moriwaki Honda to fifteenth place and one point - that's Franco Battaini and Alex barros behind him Ruben Xaus has scored points at the last two GPs on his Yamaha. “I am progressing, at least I was able to score some points and finish in the top ten, although I still owe my team a lot for the mistakes I made in pre-season.
Article Summary
May 1, 2005 Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi made history once again today, becoming the first rider to take a MotoGP victory at Shanghai, with a stunning performance in torrentially wet conditions at the inaugural Grand Prix of China. Despite starting from sixth place on the grid Rossi took control of the race on the fifth lap, taking over from early leader Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) and opening up a clear gap over the chasing pack. It was an advantage the reigning World Champion would never let slip, holding his concentration for the next 17 laps despite the attentions of surprise challenger Olivier Jacque (Kawasaki), riding in place of the injured Alex Hofmann. Jacque passed Sete Gibernau (Honda) for second place with seven laps to go and closed in on Rossi at the front, but was unable to seriously threaten the Italian's second victory from the opening three rounds of the championship.

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