Massive potential but no result for Rizla Suzuki at Brno

Bautista began the race from 14th on the grid and rode a superb first lap to put him up to 10th. On the fourth lap he moved in to seventh position and set about hunting down the leading group. He consistently recorded podium position lap times, catching and joining a five man group battling for second. Bautista had closed the gap on Valentino Rossi and looked like he would make an attack in the closing stages of the race. As Bautista entered turn 13 on the 16th lap, he lost the front tyre and slid in to the gravel. He was uninjured and retrieved his machine to re-enter the race, but was unable to continue and rode back to the pits.

Rizla Suzuki now heads back over the Atlantic for the second race in five weeks in America, as the riders get ready to line up for the Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday 28th August.

�lvaro Bautista:
?I have a strange feeling because I am frustrated that I didn?t finish after crashing, but I am also quite happy because I did all that was possible to stay with the front group. I was riding just a few seconds behind second position and after starting from the back of the grid I was pleased about that. I made a good start and got past some riders in the first few corners, so before long I was behind the quick group. After that I pushed to my maximum - I was on the limit, but everything was under control - and then with six laps to go I crashed. I lost the front and it was strange because I entered the corner like the lap before and felt nothing wrong.

?I want to say thank you to the team and sponsors for their confidence and support. I also want to say sorry, because it has been a difficult weekend for everybody; we started with two bikes and only had one in the race and none at the end. We expected a good result here, but in the end we are very disappointed with what happened. We need to keep working well in the next few races, we have a good race pace and rhythm, but we need to improve in qualifying because starting from the back means I have to give more effort at the start to catch the front group. I think if we start nearer the front we can stay with the group a lot easier, and the results will come.?

Rizla Suzuki press release.

Source: http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2011/rizla+suzuki+brno+gp+review+0

Akira Ryo Ivan Silva Marco Simoncelli Ben Spies