Zoom Randy de Puniet

The penultimate round of the 2009 season at Sepang race track has been affected by a typically tropical rain storm and the premier class riders 21-lap race has been delayed by 30 minutes.

After two days of sunny practices with an average temperature of 31 degrees, the 800cc riders lined up on the Malaysian GP starting grid on rain tyres with Rossi winning the world title.

The LCR Honda MotoGP Team racer Randy de Puniet had high expectations of another good result after setting an impressive pace in qualifying yesterday (8th overall). The 28-year-old started well from the third row of the grid, completing the first lap in 5th place but suddenly lost the rear of his machine in the second lap crashing out heavily into the gravel. Luckily the Frenchman escaped unhurt from the incident.

“I am very disappointed for me and the team”, he said. “We had found a good race set up yesterday and I qualified 8th in this morning warm up session. Then the rain storm changed the conditions completely but I was pretty confident as I usually lap with a good rhythm in the wet. I took a good start finishing the first lap in 5th position. Then in the second lap I lost the rear on turn 3 suffering a big highside. I really do not remember what happened but after having watched the accident on the TV, I feel lucky because I am ok!”

LCR Team will be back on track for the last round of the season in Valencia on the 8th of November.

© CAPSIS International