Jerez, 30 March 2008: after yesterdays good qualifying session result, the LCR Honda MotoGP rider Randy De Puniet crashed out in Jerez de la Frontera GP. The 27-year French rider aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V got the sixth position on the grid yesterday but, after a bad start, he lost the font on turn five and finished in the gravel on lap three.

Luckily for the Frenchman he escaped unhurt from the incident but he was unable to complete the 27-lap race at the Southern Spain track. Sunny skies and hot temperatures welcomed the Spanish fans this morning which celebrated the victory of their fellow countryman Dani Pedrosa on Honda, followed by Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo.
The premier class riders will be back on track tomorrow for one testing day.

De Puniet: - crashed: “I am very disappointed about the crash. Honestly I made a bad start and lost several positions in the first lap. Then, I found my pace again and was ready to catch the firsts. I was in the middle of the corner on lap three and my line was correct but suddenly I lost the front and crashed. When I came in I checked the data with my Team but we still do not understand the reason why I finished in the gravel. I was expecting something better here after the top-ten finish in Qatar. By the way we will continue our set-up work tomorrow and we will focus on suspension regulations to bet in a competitive form at Estoril”.


Race Classification:

1 Pedrosa
2 Rossi
3 Lorenzo
4 Hayden
5 Capirossi
6 Toseland
7 Hopkins
8 Dovizioso
9 Nakano
10 Vermeulen
11 Stoner
12 Melandri
13 West
14 De Angelis
15 Elias
16Guitoli

Out: Edwards, De Puniet