| |
Criville crashes Okada dominates Dutch Grand Prix
Posted: Saturday June 26, 1999 11:35 AM
ASSEN, Netherlands (Reuters) -- Japan's Tadayuki Okada led from start to finish to win the 500cc Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday after a spectacular crash by championship leader Alex Criville. American Kenny Roberts was second on his Suzuki ahead of Spain's Sete Gibernau on a Honda. Spaniard Criville dislocated his hip when he ploughed into safety cushions after his Honda slid from beneath him on a sharp, right-handed bend in the fifth lap. Renata Nosetto, a spokeswoman for the organizers, said initial x-rays showed Criville had no fractures but that he was in severe pain. She said the situation would become clearer over the next two days but his team hoped he would be able to race at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park next weekend. Criville is the teammate of Australia's five times world champion Michael Doohan, who crashed heavily in Spain in May and has not raced since. Okada, the third man in the Honda works team line-up that started the season, had built a five-second lead midway through the 20-lap race and cruised to his second 500cc victory. He clinched his first in Indonesia in 1997. Criville, who failed to pick up any points for the first time in seven races this season, had the consolation of maintaining the overall lead on 129 points, 35 clear of Roberts with Okada a further point adrift. "The championship is still very much open. I'm getting faster and want to win again next month [at the British Grand Prix]," Okada said. Criville's accident was reminiscent of his spectacular crash at Assen two years ago. But the fast, twisty circuit was also the scene in 1992 of his first 500cc grand prix victory. Brazilian Alex Barros crashed out when trying to overhaul Roberts on the final lap but mounted his bike again to cross the line in 10th place. "I had to try it but the front wheel touched the white line and I couldn't avoid it," Barros said. World champion Loris Capirossi, riding a Honda, won the 250cc race after a thrilling battle with compatriot Valentino Rossi. Capirossi overtook pole position holder Rossi early in the race but repeatedly lost the lead to the 20-year-old Aprilia rider who had been hoping to win here to mark his father's 250cc victory 20 years ago. Capirossi's win was all the more satisfying in that he was suspended for last week's Catalan Grand Prix for dangerous riding at the Italian Grand Prix earlier this month. Japan's Tohru Ukawa, who finished fourth behind Briton Jeremy McWilliams, retained his overall lead with 134 points against Rossi's 115. Capirossi, fourth on 82 points, said his win opened up the championship battle again. "There are still nine more races, the championship isn't finished yet," he said. "It's okay for the championship, it's good for the show," said Rossi. Ukawa's compatriot Masao Azuma surged past another Honda rider, Noboru Ueda, on the final lap to win the 125cc event. Azuma's victory, his fourth of the season, took him to the top of the standings with 122 points. Previous leader Emilio Alzamora of Spain trails him by 11 points.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. | |||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
| |||||||||||||||||
