McCoy: 500s gone but not forgotten.

Red Bull Yamaha rider Garry McCoy ended his 2002 season in eventful fashion at yesterday's historic Valencia GP that saw a distinguished era for two-stroke 500 machines draw to a conclusion.

The 30-year-old Australian was penalised for jumping the start, and after returning to the track in last place on lap five, crashed out just two laps later while trying to fight his way back into the points.

McCoy, who has the distinction of being the last rider to qualify a two-stroke on the front row for a MotoGP after a superb display in yesterday?s qualifying session, knew his only hope of challenging the superior 900cc four-stroke machines was to make a lightning start...

Having studied the lights at the beginning of the earlier 125 and 250 races, McCoy gambled on a all-out attack policy to try and out drag the four-strokes to the first corner.

Unfortunately, he launched his YZR500 a fraction too early, and was forced to pit for a mandatory 10-second stop/go penalty. With the long run in through the pits though, McCoy's gamble actually cost him well over 30 seconds.

"I had no choice but to go all-out," explained McCoy afterwards. "It was the last race for the 500 two-strokes and I put one on the front row at a track I really like. I was keen to get the holeshot and maybe try and hold the four-strokes up for a while and make a race of it.

"I had watched the 125 and 250 starts and the red lights were being held a little longer than normal and I figured I had counted the extra time fine. I waited a bit longer but it was a fraction too early. It is a bit disappointing but I had to risk it," he stated defiantly.

"When I re-joined the race I was just on the brakes and bouncing a little on a bump when I lost the front end," he recalled. "It's all over for the 500s now, the end of an era, the 500s are gone but not forgotten."

The Slide King, and the rest of the Red Bull team, had worn a black arm-band to signify the last Motorcycle Grand Prix with a 500cc two-stroke.

Director of Racing Peter Clifford commented: "That was a fairly unfortunate end to what has been a very varied season. Nobody could say that Garry was not trying and he knew he had to make a superb start if he was going to make it first into the first corner."