Bussei says he would have done the same for any rider at the time, but - having subsequently been given a harsh ride-through penalty for his actions, ruining his race and any hopes of a podium finish - Giovanni admitted that, due to the unexpectedly tough penalty, he probably wouldn't do it again.
"I am friends with Chris but nothing special - we weren't close friends before (Imola) or anything - I just did what I would do for anybody, but I wouldn't do it again because they 'kill' you for it!" he smiled. "I just did what I felt was right at the time, but then I probably lost the chance of a podium because of it - I set the second fastest lap of the race - it could have been one of the best races of my life.
"Maybe I'm here because of (Imola 2004) maybe not," he mused. "I'm certainly happy to be here and thank Ten Kate for the opportunity, but I hope I won't have to thank them as such because I hope to do a good job and make them happy to have chosen me. I prefer to think of it that way," he concluded.
"Giovanni is taking it step-by-step, and I am really pleased that he is approaching it, having been off a bike since Magny Cours last year," added team manager Ronald Ten Kate at the end of day one. "That's a long time to be out, but he is doing well so far, constantly improving. If it is dry again tomorrow he will improve quite a bit, I'm sure of it."
