Catalunya MotoGP Results

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Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RCV211V) bagged his fifth win from sixraces at a scorching Catalunya. More than 90,000 sun-drenched Spaniardswatched Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RCV211V) finish a close second asHonda recorded its third one-two of the season so far. This is Rossi's 44thcareer win and his 18th premier class win. The new Honda RCV211 has now wonevery race so far this year.

Rossi started from the front row of the grid in fourth place and heldfourth position into the first turn. By the fifth lap he'd got into arhythm and set the fastest lap of the race at 1m 45.594s on lap five.Carlos Checa (Yamaha), Ukawa, Rossi and Max Biaggi (Yamaha) were nowpulling clear. Rossi moved into second place behind Checa on lap 14 and onthe next lap he used the speed of the RCV to edge past the Spaniard at theend of the long start/finish straight and into the lead. He led from thenon with team-mate Ukawa in close touch throughout.

"That was a really hard race for the bike, the tires and me," said theChampionship leader. " I have to say a big thank you to all my team becausewe changed so many of the settings over the weekend to find the best raceset-up. I got a good start, and followed the others. Checa got into a goodrhythm and I overtook Biaggi when the others started to get away. I triedto turn some laps in the 45 second bracket but I couldn't. I got away andTohru came with me, but I was a little better on the brakes in three of theturns and I managed to stay in front. I'm very happy with this win."

Second-placed Ukawa looked as if he might have been able to repeat thesuccess he had in the second race of the MotoGP Championship in SouthAfrica when he overtook Rossi in the closing stages for a win. But althoughUkawa pressed him hard all the way Rossi had just enough in hand to fendhim off.

"I knew I had to make a good start," said Ukawa. "And I got the holeshot,my first this season. I led until Checa went past me and then I got himback and held it. The tyres were good today and the whole bike felt good.The work we did in qualifying really paid off in the race and I guess I'mhappy with second. I'm not so happy that the points gap between Valnetinoand me has increased. But there's a long way to go this season and I'll begiving it everything."

Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda Team: 1st: "That was a really hard race forthe bike, the tyres and me! I have to say a big thank you to all my teambecause we changed so many settings over the weekend in order to find thebest race set-up. I made a good start and followed the others. Checa had agood rhythm. When the others started to go I overtook Biaggi. I then triedto make some laps in the 45's but it was not possible. I go and Tohru comeswith me. I'm a little bit harder in braking and I managed to stay in front.I'm very happy."