De Puniet reflective after `losing the lottery´

Starting from twelfth on the grid in Le Mans, French rider Randy de Puniet achieved his minimum ambition of completing his home race. Despite having been unable to move any further up the top ten, the LCR Honda man was content with the result due to the difficult conditions encountered.

Randy de Puniet – 9th

`It was not easy for me today, because I finally made a good start but another rider pushed me outside the chicane and when I rejoined the race I was ninth. Hopkins overtook me in the inside in the downhill and we both went wide. So I lost five places and was 14th. For the following eight laps my pace was not consistent but I started to push hard to be back in the top ten. Finally I was behind Capirossi and Hayden but was too late to pass them. I feel satisfied anyway because this race was a lottery due to the mixed conditions of the track.´