Race Reactions - Mugello GP500.

Loris Capirossi:

''I think, for me, today this is a very fantastic day because I win my second race in 500, although this second win is much better than the first one. I think this race is fantastic, especially because I was in Italy with my people. I am so, so happy.''

''I started in third position, but I overtook Roberts and Valentino [Rossi], and tried to get far away. After maybe 15 laps I had a little bit of a problem with my rear tyre, and I had to go a more slowly, so Valentino and Max [Biaggi] were able to come back to me. But, on the last lap, I think it's fantastic, because I overtook Max twice, and he made a few mistakes and crashed.''

''My team is working so well, because they stay near to me [at the time that] everything is not working so good.''

Carlos Checa:

''I've never led the championship before, so this is great! But there are still ten races to go, so anything can happen. We'll just try and stay focused.''

''The race was tough, and I didn't feel totally comfortable, so I was just working at maintaining my pace and position. There were a lot of crashes today but mistakes happen, especially when you've got three Italians hungry to win their home GP. I would've preferred to get second without guys falling ahead of me, but these things happen in racing.''

Jeremy McWilliams:

''I'm so happy, it's OK to end up on the podium. I thought I rode quite well to get what I deserved - which was a fifth out of the race - but racing is racing. Everybody was having tyre trouble, including myself, and there was a lot of crashing at the end of the race.''

''I'm on the podium, and delighted for Aprilia. I think we deserve to be here. I could've been here before, but I made some mistakes in Le Mans, crashed in Jerez, so it's about time that fifth place came along! Hopefully there'll be lots more to it, but I would've liked this sooner rather than later. For it to happen in Mugello is incredible.''

''The Aprilia is pretty much working and, in the end, they asked me what bike I wanted to run on, and we took a big gamble and ran the new bike. The new bike works very, very well on the brakes, but I was having trouble on the brakes. I had trouble with them in qualifying, and crashed twice, but I still think this was the best decision. I may not be able to put as fast a lap in, but my consistency is a lot better, and there's a margin of error. In other words, when I brake quite late, it's going to fall on the forks every time. The bike suits me. We're going to stay on and test it a little bit more, so that can change it quite a bit. I've got to be happy with the results after a pretty abysmal, shit, crap qualifying. I was very, very annoyed about my qualifying, but we're all happy now.''

Valentino Rossi:

''Today I was a little bit unlucky, but it was a good race for all the Italian fans. There were three Italians in the first three positions, but I tried to push and, after a while, I lost the front and I crashed. Maybe next time.''

Max Biaggi:

''That was a great race for the fans, and I did everything I could. I think I rode a great race until the crash. I knew it was going to be hard getting in front and staying there, because the Hondas were very fast, but it was such a close fight. I wanted to win so much, but I would've been happy enough with second. It's a real shame that I crashed, because I touched Capirossi's rear tyre with my brake lever.''