Misano, 31 August 2008: Under sunny skies the Grand Prix of San Marino and Riviera di Rimini was run at a very hot pace today but LCR Honda MotoGP Team rider Randy De Puniet did not finish the race crashing out on lap one. After yesterday’s good qualifying when De Puniet got the 4th quickest time of the day aboard the Michelin-shod Honda RC212V, the 27-year-old made a good start from the second row and was fifth when he went out in the gravel.

Luckily  Randy escaped unhurt from the accident suffering just a small injury on his right arm.
The French racer and his crew will be back on track tomorrow for one testing day and will fly to US for Indianopolis GP on the 14 of September. Rossi won his home race followed by his team mate Lorenzo and Elias.

De Puniet - crashed: “I am very disappointed for me and the Team. The whole week end has been very positive and the 4th position on the grid was a good occasion for me. I made a good start from the second row and knew that I could get a positive result as my pace was consistently fast throughout the week end. I was fifth when I went wide in the last corner loosing the rear control. My right arm aches a bit but will be fine for tomorrow’s test. The Team made an excellent job this week end and I want to thank them for their efforts”.


Race:

1 Rossi
2 Lorenzo
3 Elias
4 Pedrosa
5 Vermeulen
6 Toseland
7 Capirossi
8 Dovizioso
9 Melandri
10 Edwards
11 Guintoli
12 Nakano
13 West
14 Hopkins

OUT: Stoner, De Angelis, De Puniet