A weekend of hard work from Team San Carlo Honda Gresini paid off this afternoon with a fifth place finish for Alvaro Bautista at the Indianapolis Grand Prix. The Spaniard made an excellent start from eighth on the grid (having gained a place due to the non-participation of Nicky
Hayden) and he fought hard for a podium for three quarters of the race before finally losing touch with Andrea Dovizioso and Casey Stoner. Sadly there was no such good fortune for Michele Pirro who was forced to retire with a swingarm problem.
Alvaro Bautista (5th) "This result is fruit of all the hard work the guys in the team have done this weekend to get the feeling back that we had before Mugello. I knew I could have a good race today and after making some positions up at the start I was able to run with the front guys for most of the race. At the end Dovizioso and Stoner were two or three tenths quicker than me so I couldn't follow them but I think this is a positive result for us, especially after a couple of difficult races for us. I hope this means we are on the right lines for the upcoming races but I want to thank everybody in the team for helping me to get my confidence and feel for the bike back, as well as all the sponsors and everybody who has kept faith in us."
Michele Pirro "I am really upset right now because this is our fourth retirement in a row. It is another technical setback and I am extremely disappointed by it."
Fausto Gresini "Alvaro had a good race today. It wasn't an easy race but it certainly was an intense one. He kept a good pace and improved his pace from practice to get a fifth place which makes me happy, especially for him because he needed a boost after some tough races. It is a boost for the whole team, we needed it and it refocuses us now as we look to continue our quest to perform to our full potential. I am sorry for Michele, who had to retire with the swingarm problem. It is a nagging issue and something the FTR engineers need to resolve for the next race. Michele and the team's efforts should not go to waste in this manner."
San Carlo Honda Gresini Press Release
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