Aprilia reveal cause of Melandri's retirement.
The MS Aprilia team have revealed that Marco Melandri was deprived of sealing the 250cc World Championship today in Sepang because of an electrical failure on the very first lap.
Although he initially tried to continue, his attempts proved fruitless as the upper cylinder of his quarter litre RSW machine was by then receiving no current and only one cylinder was firing. Aprilia state that the problem has never occurred before.
The MS Aprilia team have revealed that Marco Melandri was deprived of sealing the 250cc World Championship today in Sepang because of an electrical failure on the very first lap.
Although he initially tried to continue, his attempts proved fruitless as the upper cylinder of his quarter litre RSW machine was by then receiving no current and only one cylinder was firing. Aprilia state that the problem has never occurred before.
"There was nothing to suggest the bike was going to have a hitch," explained the young Italian. "Then, when I was up at 11,500 revs, I felt a "void" in the engine and the bike slowed down. It was going on just one cylinder and there was nothing for it but to return to the pits. This is bad luck, real bad luck.
"The fault put me out of the running but I can't take it out on anyone - it's just bad luck. Tremendous bad luck," said a composed Melandri. "Now the (World Championship) situation's getting more complicated, as the two Spanish riders - Elias and Nieto - can start working as a team and I'll have to bear in mind that I'm alone. I'm going to have to fight hard for this title."
Fonsi Nieto's victory and Melandri's retirement today leaves the latter with a 27 point lead over Nieto, with a maximum of 50 still available.
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
