Welkom, South Africa

GRAND PRIX OF AFRICA SUNDAY 21st APRIL 

GARRY McCOY ­ 10th place
World championship classification ­ 16th ­ Six points

"I made a good start and felt comfortable running in fifth place early in the race but going with the Honda's was not an option.  About halfway through the race I had a couple of really big slides with the front tyre and it was hard work to hold on. With about 10 laps to go I started to get some pain from my right leg. From then on I decided what I needed to do was just get to the finish. Getting some points in the process was a real bonus. I haven't really done much for the last couple of months since I broke my leg in testing and I don't think my leg liked it out there too much."

JOHN HOPKINS ­ 14th place
World championship classification - 17th ­ Six points

"I got a bit of a slow start but I got into the race and started to make a couple of passes. But on the fourth lap I thought I started to smell some oil from one of the four-strokes. I had just passed Tetsuya Harada when I went into the right-hander at the end of the back straight when I saw a shiny spot that you are always looking for when you think there is oil on the track. It must have just been a piece of rubber but I'd already picked up the bike. By the time I tried to make the corner I was heading full blast into the grass. I lost around 10 seconds but started to push again. I saw Regis Laconi had also been off the track and we had a good battle. I went to pass him on the last lap but just as I got beside him I think he must have had a problem with his bike because he lifted his hand up and started to slow down. This track is one of the toughest of the season so to come away with some more points is pleasing."

PETER CLIFFORD ­ TEAM MANAGER

"That was a heroic ride from Garry. He was obviously in a lot of pain at the end of the race judging by the expression on his face. He ran a superb pace in the early stages and just to bring the bike home at all and get some points in those circumstances is a fantastic achievement. It was great to see John in the points again. He had a bit of a moment in the early part of the race but he fought back and passed Regis Laconi superbly on the last lap."

Saturday 20th April

OFFICIAL QUALIFYING 

GARRY McCOY - 5th 1.35.378

"I don't think my right leg is going to give me any problems in the race because I'm feeling a lot stronger. I still think it will be at Jerez in two weeks when I'm fully fit and I'm just going to try and get some points tomorrow. The bike was feeling good today. I got behind Max Biaggi for a couple of laps and got a good chance to compare Yamaha's two and four-stroke bikes.
At this track, I don't think Max was making any ground on me which is encouraging. The grip level was much better today and that's why I found two seconds. I spent most of yesterday as well just checking tyres. I didn't use a qualifier for my quick lap but it was a soft race tyre although it isn't an option because it won't last the distance. It looks like Dunlop have got a good option for me in the race but we'll make a decision after the morning warm-up."

JOHN HOPKINS ­ 17th 1.36.092

"I'm really happy with the progress we've made. I went a second faster than yesterday and am only 1.4s behind Valentino Rossi on pole so that shows how things are improving. I'm still learning but the improvements definitely came from me just being more confident and familiar with the track. We didn't actually make any changes to the bike from yesterday because I was so happy with the set-up we'd found. I was helped today by the fact there was a lot more grip available and hopefully it will be even better tomorrow. I'm not going to make any changes overnight for the race. I'm really happy with the engine, suspension and the tyres and hopefully I'll be able to run with some of the guys in front of me tomorrow. I did actually follow a group of guys today and that really helps because they can help you improve. You can see what lines they are using and where they are braking to help yourself go faster."

FRIDAY

WELKOM - SOUTH AFRICA


First time at Welkom for John Hopkins who shaved off a massive 3.5 seconds from this morning's (Friday's) free practice session. Struggled with the typically dirty and dusty conditions this morning but he was only 0.1s off a place in the top 10 of the provisional grid.

Garry is still battling to overcome the double break in his right leg. He is walking slightly better after a loose screw was removed out of the leg immediately after Suzuka.

JOHN HOPKINS 13TH FASTEST 1.37.101
"This circuit really reminds me of riding at home in America. The track is tight, very bumpy and there isn't a lot of grip and is just like circuits that I grew up on. The altitude in Welkom really softens up the engine making it a lot less powerful than normal and I think that might have helped me learn the track a bit quicker. I'm pleased because we found a good set-up right at the end of the session. We'd basically started off with things too soft this morning so we stiffened the suspension up for this afternoon and it definitely made the bike more stable under braking over the bumps. It was quite difficult this morning because the track is really slick. I couldn't even push it was so slippery and I had to pull in after about two laps because there was so much dirt and dust on my visor and inside my helmet. I learned a lot though following some of the other guys. That way I could see what parts of the track were clean and where it was okay to avoid the bumps without getting on a real dusty part of the track. I'm sure with more grip tomorrow and the confidence I've gained we can go even better tomorrow."


GARRY McCOY - 17TH FASTEST 1.37.473
"After Suzuka I went straight back to Austria to have the leg assessed and we found a screw had started to work its way out.  It was actually putting pressure on the skin so I had to have it taken out. Straight away I had more movement in my ankle but it is going to be tough in Welkom because there are only three left-hand corners where there ís no pressure on my leg. Hopefully I'm going to be fully fit for the next race in Jerez."