GERMAN GP - SACHSENRING

RACE DAY

Sunday - 21st July 2002

McCoy Makes the Top Ten

A sell-out crowd of 78 000 fans enjoyed one of the most exciting races of the Season at the Sachsenring today for the ninth round of the MotoGP championship. McCoy started the race in eighth position and after a good start, had a disappointing ride into the opening corners and was soon dropped down into 13th position. McCoy, one of only 13 finishes today in  the crash-strewn race, scored 7 points for the Red Bull Yamaha squad and consolidated the team's 6th place on the World Championship Table.

Team-mate to McCoy, John Hopkins, was sidelined yesterday with a broken left hand after a massive get off on the the fast downhill right corner.

"Hopper" took the opportunity to enjoy a day at the races and spent some time as a guest TV commentator. Hopkins will return to racing 100% fit in Brno.

Garry McCoy - 9th position- scoring 7 points today
World Championship Classification - 20th with 18 points

"I didn't make a real good start, I dropped back a few places and got tangled up behind Kagayama (Telefonica Movistar Suzuki). He was throwing it all over the place. Once the race settled the front guys weren't really pulling away but at this track you have to get away with them to run at the front."

"Aoki was always there, behind me, I could see it on the lap board. He passed me coming up the hill, before the finishing line and it was going to be to risky to pass him back. I'm feeling good, there are no problems with my fitness, I just need to get on top of my racing a find some rhythm."

Christophe Bourguignon (Race Engineer - Garry McCoy)
"Garry was able to do go lap times during the race which was the same as the top guys. He would of been able to stay with the top guys to the end if he just had a better start to the race."

John Hopkins- did not race today - fractured bone in left hand
World Championship Classification - 12th with 41 points

Peter Clifford - Team Manager
"Really good lap times for Garry for most of the race. Obviously confidence in the opening laps was lacking a little and that's where he lost the chance to run with the front guys. But I'm sure he will get over that before the next round in Brno."

"All credit to the West Pons and Gauloises Tech 3 teams for really taking it to the four strokes here."
 

Final Qualifying - Saturday July 20th 2002

McCoy Back in Form and Hopkins Down

Garry McCoy put in a last minute hot lap this afternoon in the final qualifying session at the Sachsenring to finish in 8th position on the grid, on the outside of the second row. McCoy who qualified only 0.337 seconds off pole position, set a time that would of seen him last year on pole. McCoy is one of Ten riders who were within 0.367 seconds of pole.

Team-mate to McCoy, the American rookie, John Hopkins, had a spectacular crash in the dying minutes of the session. Hopper was pushing his YZR 500 to the limit and crashed out on the 6th gear, fast right hand downhill corner. He will not race tomorrow and has taken Doctor Costas advice to rest the broken hand for at least 21 days.

Garry McCoy - 8th 1'26.095

"I had a problem with the front forks and the front -end set up yesterday and we tried to fix that today, which we have in a way, but we still have to find the right balance in the rear. We spent most of the session getting the race set-up and its good to be starting from the second row.

"It's looking pretty good for the race and the four strokes don't have the advantage here like they do have everywhere else. I got behind a couple of different riders today to just get an eye on a few of them and to lift my speed up a bit. It'll still be a tough race though and there is really only one place to pass and that's in the slipstream at turn one."

John Hopkins - 14th- 1'26.551

"Yeah, I'm feeling all right, its no big deal, I've broken my hand before but never this particular bit. I was pushing really hard on that lap, trying to make up time on the last section.

"I had the qualifying tyre on and I was on the limit, pushing as hard as I could on the fast downhill right hander. It just flicked me off. All I could think of when I was tumbling through the air was brace yourself - this is going to hurt."

Peter Clifford - Team Manager

"Well, John had a very nasty fall right at the end of the session and injured his left hand. He has seen Dr. Costa and the X-rays show a fracture to his 3rd metcarpal joint on his middle finger.

"Of course John was keen to ride tomorrow to maintain his 100% points scoring record but I asked him not to. It is more important that he take care and comeback in Brno 100% fit.

"Its great to see Garry back and quickly regaining his form. He is now 100% fit and one rider like that, is all the team seems to manage at the moment."

 

Qualifying No. 1 Friday July 19th 2002

RED BULL LOOKING FOR MORE

Red Bull Yamaha riders, Garry McCoy and John Hopkins line up side by side on the provisional grid for the ninth round of the MotoGP World Championship at Sachsenring in Germany. McCoy who is riding in only his second GP since returning from a severe leg break, is finding form at the twisty, tight track and during the session briefly snatched 3rd place on the provisional front row. Team-mate, John "Hopper" Hopkins is looking again at scoring in his ninth consecutive MotoGP race.

John Hopkins:11th 1'26. 930

"I'm definitely not happy with how things went for me today, although I did manage to drag myself up the ranks towards the end of the session. We've got to change a few things with the set-up so I can continue to improve tomorrow and I've asked Colin my Crew Chief to look at getting me some more rear grip.

"This track is really tight, it¹s a strange place and to me it's more like a go-kart track and nothing like what I've raced on this season so far. I rode here a few weeks ago on a R1 on an open day, to learn my way round this twisty tight place but everything is of course so different on the YZR 500. The track day definitely has helped me know my way around here, now I just need to find the right settings for the race bike.

"Hopefully it is dry tomorrow and I can improve some more."

Garry McCoy: 12th - 1'26.982

"I'm still working on building up to the rhythm of qualifying and racing and its getting better every day. I was up there for a little while and I had a few good laps behind Barros. It was my first real opportunity to get behind someone who is up there at the moment. I didn't get the opportunity in Donington to see anyone up close. Barros blocked me at a couple of places and I didn't realise we were going so quick.

"On my quick lap at the end of the session, I caught Cardoso, but it was going to be a bit dodgy to try and pass him, so I let him go and I think I was only two-tenths slower than my best lap time. Friday is not the time to do anything silly.

"On my qualifier, I went two-tenths faster and really you should go a half a second quicker. I've still got to get the best out of the qualifying tyre, so I'm working on that."


Peter Clifford - Team Manager

"Its completely ridiculous that we can be a little disappointed that John is "only" 11th fastest and 0.8 seconds from pole on his first day here, but, we've already come to expect so much from him.

"Garry is obviously working his way back up to speed and I think both guys have got more to come tomorrow."