THE World 500cc motorcycle champion Michael Doohan of Australia bounced back from his poor start to the season by storming to victory in yesterday's Indonesian Grand Prix.
Doohan, riding a Honda, finished a disappointing fifth in the Malaysian Grand Prix, the opening race of the world championship in Shah Alam last weekend. But he made no mistake yesterday and Brazilian Honda rider Alexandre Barross took the lead in the world championship standings after finishing second in the 30 lap race.
Doohan completed the course in 43 minutes 50.798 seconds and recorded the fastest lap of one minute 27.139 seconds, with Barross clocking 43:54.025.
Third placed Loris Capirossi, the Italian Yamaha rider recorded 43:57.590, followed by Spaniard Alex Criville on a Honda, who finished in 43:58.226.
Doohan was delighted with his victory.
"Pretty much everything went to plan," he said. "It was just a matter of bringing the bike home. We did plenty of testing during free practice. I knew the last 10 or so laps would be the most trying.
Capirossi said: "It was a very difficult 30 lap race, I had not such a bad start and I tried hard to overtake Barross and Mick (Doohan) but I pushed the front tyre too hard and for the last 15 laps I had to take it easy."
"Today it was very important to finish the race," added the Italian rider, who suffered a bad fall after 24 laps in Malaysia and did not finish.
Barross blamed his tyres. "I tried to save my tyres in the last five laps," he said, adding that one of the tyres started slipping on the wheel and he had to reduce speed.
On being championship leader, he said: "It is still early to say much about it. It is only the second race, but of course I am very happy."
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