Biaggi Scores Easy Victory in Pacific Grand Prix Motorcycle Race

Topics:  Pacific Grand Prix, Max Biaggi

VOA Sports
Voice of America
October 5, 2003

Max Biaggi rode his Honda to an easy victory Sunday in the Pacific Grand Prix motorcycle race in Motegi, Japan.  It was his second Moto GP victory of the season for the Italian rider, who started from the pole position.

Biaggi opened up a comfortable lead midway through the 24-lap race and crossed the finish line with a winning time of 43 minutes, 57.590 seconds.  That was almost four seconds ahead of countryman and world champion Valentino Rossi.

The real drama in Sunday's race was the battle for second place.  Rossi, who was second on his Honda after six laps, lost control of his bike and went off the course on the seventh lap.  He fell to ninth place, but surged back into second place on the 18th lap.

In the 250-cc race, Toni Elias held off a challenge from Italy's Roberto Rolfo as Spain captured its second victory of the day.  Spanish rider Hector Barbera won the 125 cc race.