Mugello, Italy 2000

Italian Grand Prix 500 cc Grand Prix, Mugello Circuit.

Race, 28 May 2000. Weather: Fine. 28 degrees C.

LACONI SCORES TOP TEN FINISH AS McCOY CRASHES OUT

Red Bull Yamaha star Regis Laconi scored his best result of the season so far with a brave ride into seventh place in the Italian GP while teammate Garry McCoy walked away pointless after crashing out.

McCoy's crash cost him two positions in the world championship standings with the 28 year-old Sydney rider dropping to fifth on the table with 61 points.

While unhappy with that outcome there was some consolation that McCoy, winner of the season-opening South African GP, was in good company.  Star factory riders including world champion Alex Criville (Honda), Valentino Rossi (Honda), Max Biaggi (Yamaha) and Alex Barros (Honda) all tumbled out of the race.

McCoy again staged his trademark mid-race charge and moved from 13th (his qualifying position) on lap twelve to be in sixth on lap 18, right behind eventual third placed Jeremy McWilliams, when he crashed.

Laconi, still only 14th after three laps, overcame clutch problems with his Yamaha immediately after the start to complete the race distance with a stirring contest against Honda rival Tady Okada who finished eighth. 

To the delight of 71,000 ecstatic fans the race was won by Loris Capirossi (Honda) who battled fiercely with countrymen Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi for the honour of winning their home GP. Both Rossi and Biaggi crashed on the final lap leaving Spain's Carlos Checa (Yamaha) and Irishman Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia) to finish second and third respectively.

A total of eight riders raced at Mugello using the 16.5 inch rear Michelin tyre, a trend re-introduced to 500 GP racing this season by McCoy. The riders switching to 16.5 tyres (away from their usual 17 inch choice) for this race included Roberts, Biaggi (for the first time in his 500 cc career), Aoki, Checa and Okada.

Both Laconi and McCoy will stay over in Mugello for a test session with the Red Bull Yamaha team tomorrow (Monday, 29 May). The tests include a session with Michelin trying a new 16.5 front tyre from the French manufacturer.

Round seven of the world championship is the Catalunya GP in Barcelona on June 11. 

Garry McCoy : DNF. World Championship : Fifth, 61 points

"Pretty simple, I just lost the front, same corner as Rossi and Max I
think, and a bunch of guys in the 250 race . When I crashed I was closing on Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia) who finished on the podium so who knows, it's all 'ifs and buts' and they don't count on the points table.

"From 13th on the grid I got jammed at turn one, couldn't go left or right but then just pushed hard early in the race to try and keep the leaders within reach.  After ten laps I was on a consistent pace and felt I could lap at 1m 54s (the race pace) right until the finish.  It seems some of the other guys tyres started to going away and I passed a few including Roberts , Aoki and Norick pretty quick. 

"I am testing here at Mugello tomorrow and I think I'll try some 17 inch rear tyres, perhaps there is a way I can qualify better on those and race on the 16.5 inch Michelins like a lot of guys did today."

"The crash has cost me a couple spots in the championship but there are still ten races to go so it's better it happens now than later in the season. "

Regis Laconi: 7th place. World Championship : Eleventh.  40 points.

"From the start I had a problem with the clutch and lost many positions. I had taken a gamble to use a softer rear tyre than Michelin had advised me but I had a good feeling with this tyre felt in practice.

"Unfortunately with the clutch problem I had to push too hard to try make up time and I destroyed the tyre so that was a shame.  Even so I passed Okada three or four times but each time he came back past me on the straight so on the final lap I tried make sure he couldn't do again which is what happened.

"Still I'm happy, this was a positive result given the problems and more good experience for me."

Italian 500 cc Grand Prix, Mugello..

Final Qualifying, 27 May 2000. Weather: Fine 28 deg. C

LACONI MAKES TOP TEN, McCOY BACK IN THIRTEENTH 

Flying Frenchman Regis Laconi found a solution to his handling problems to qualify his Red Bull Yamaha in ninth position for tomorrow's Italian Grand Prix.

While Laconi moved forward from his Friday performance his teammate Garry McCoy slipped to thirteenth and the Australian admits he faces a tough time to secure a top ten finish.

McCoy is out to protect his third place in the world championship standings ahead of fourth placed Alex Criville, the reigning world champion, who crashed twice in the final qualifying session.


Laconi slashed 1.3s from his Friday qualifying time after eliminating the front end "bumping" he experienced with his Yamaha the previous day.  As indication of just how competitive the 500 GP class is at the moment the top 12 riders on the grid are separated by just one second.

Despite his extreme disappointment to back on the fourth row of the grid in 13th McCoy had no real complaints about his bike.  He was comfortable with his race set-up and tyre choice but could not find the speed to improve his position from Friday qualifying.  McCoy is not known as a fast qualifier but is a superb "racer" and those skills will be fully tested at Mugello.

McCoy's best maximum speed on the long Mugello straight was 308 kph with Laconi clocked at 305.9 kph.

Brazilian Alex Barros (Honda) made a late dash to claim pole position with a time of 1m 52.81s and was joined on the front row of the grid by Max Biaggi (Yamaha), Valentino Rossi (Honda) and Loris Capirossi (Honda).

Regis Laconi 9th place, 1m 53.534s

"I tried a different setting at the front and this eliminated the bumping under brakes that I was feeling on Friday.  The bike feels much better now everywhere, on the straight, under brakes and on the edge into the corners.  In the morning session I had a little bit of chattering at the rear but we solved this also.  I am happy because we have made our race tyre choice, front and rear so I'm confident that with a good start I will have a strong race."

Garry McCoy 13th place, 1m 54.331s

"The fourth row, that's pretty disappointing as Mugello is one of my
preferred tracks.  The bike is working well and I haven't needed to make changes but it seems we really only have one choice of rear tyre here. The tyre is our strongest one, I can do 1m 54s on it all time and it stays the same, so hopefully that will be the race pace. 

"I tried a different tyre right at the end that we thought might good for one quick lap but that didn't work.  As for the Hondas I've never seem them this strong in terms of speed.  If I get behind one I can't even get a tow out of the slipstream and when Tady Okada (Honda) was behind me he just pulled out and blew past me."

"My race plan is simple, I haven't got too many options from 13th.  I'll go for it and try and keep my head screwed on, stay on the bike and finish in the points. "