valerossi
07-13-2005, 11:41 AM
WEDNESDAY 13TH JULY 2005
The US Grand Prix formed the centrepiece of Yamaha's 50th Anniversary celebrations, with the Factory team riding in a special 1970s 'USA yellow' livery for the event at which no less than 25 former Yamaha riders were invited for a weekend of partying - at a circuit whose multi-million dollar safety improvements Yamaha had themselves funded.
But Honda's Nicky Hayden hadn't read the script and would dominate all but one on-track session on his way to a first ever MotoGP victory, with Yamaha riders Colin Edwards second and world champion Valentino Rossi - who had won the last five races in a row prior to Laguna Seca - third.
The impression that Hayden had upset Yamaha's plans was underlined when former champion Eddie Lawson helped present the podium trophies dressed in Yamaha livery, while Rossi and Edwards were left looking every so slightly embarrassed as they stood either side of the victorious Kentuckian. It was Honda's first ever premier-class victory at Laguna Seca.
The US GP was chosen to host Yamaha's 50th Anniversary celebrations because 'the event falls just ten days after the official half-century of the Yamaha Motor Company on July 1' but, as those with a numerical mind will be quick to point out, the preceding Dutch TT at Assen on June 25 was actually closer to the anniversary date... Rossi won at Assen.
Illustration by Crash.net cartoonist Sprocket.
Honda’s Nicky Hayden ‘gatecrashed’ Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary celebrations by winning the US Grand Prix ahead of their riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.
The US Grand Prix formed the centrepiece of Yamaha's 50th Anniversary celebrations, with the Factory team riding in a special 1970s 'USA yellow' livery for the event at which no less than 25 former Yamaha riders were invited for a weekend of partying - at a circuit whose multi-million dollar safety improvements Yamaha had themselves funded.
But Honda's Nicky Hayden hadn't read the script and would dominate all but one on-track session on his way to a first ever MotoGP victory, with Yamaha riders Colin Edwards second and world champion Valentino Rossi - who had won the last five races in a row prior to Laguna Seca - third.
The impression that Hayden had upset Yamaha's plans was underlined when former champion Eddie Lawson helped present the podium trophies dressed in Yamaha livery, while Rossi and Edwards were left looking every so slightly embarrassed as they stood either side of the victorious Kentuckian. It was Honda's first ever premier-class victory at Laguna Seca.
The US GP was chosen to host Yamaha's 50th Anniversary celebrations because 'the event falls just ten days after the official half-century of the Yamaha Motor Company on July 1' but, as those with a numerical mind will be quick to point out, the preceding Dutch TT at Assen on June 25 was actually closer to the anniversary date... Rossi won at Assen.
Illustration by Crash.net cartoonist Sprocket.
Honda’s Nicky Hayden ‘gatecrashed’ Yamaha’s 50th Anniversary celebrations by winning the US Grand Prix ahead of their riders Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi.