Jorge Lorenzo (Aprilia) won his first 250cc Grand Prix from Alex de Angelis (Aprilia) with Andrea Dovizioso (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) stealing third place in a stirring three-way fight with his team-mate Yuki Takahashi (Humangest Racing Honda RS250RW) and Hector Barbera (Aprilia).
Lorenzo made the early running in a lead group that contained the first five finishers. The only man missing at the end of 26-laps was rapid rookie Shuhei Aoyama (Repsol Honda RS250RW) who crashed out on lap two while running with the fast men at the front.
Barbera made several attempts to deprive his team-mate Lorenzo of the lead until he managed a pass on lap six. Dovi meantime was holding third while a dejected Sebastian Porto (Repsol Honda RS250RW), who had struggled all weekend, retired to the pits while way down the field.
Lorenzo had now recovered the lead from his team-mate and was joined by de Angelis as they gradually pulled clear of the chasing group of Dovi, Barbera and Takahashi. But third was where was the action was and as the closing laps counted down the struggle intensified.
Takahashi made some brave, clean moves around the outside of Barbera while Dovi tried to hold them both at bay and going into the stadium section for the final time, it was Dovi who capitalized best on the cut-throat action to broach the line in third. Martin Cardenas (Würth Honda RS250RW) finished inside the top ten in eighth.
“We had problems all week with the chassis,” said Dovizioso. “But third today is good and it makes all the hard work worthwhile. We’ve still got to make sure we can keep making improvements to make sure we are right on the pace in Qatar.”
Takahashi said, “I really enjoyed today. The bike was so good I didn’t realize that my race rhythm was so high. Then the tyres started moving around a bit and I had to slow down slightly. Then I could settle down and push again.”
Andrea Dovizioso, Humangest Honda, 3rd“I knew I could do well today and for this reason I’m not really surprised about the third place. Of course, we had some problems during the winter test and the past two days, but this is also because I don’t really like this track. In the morning’s warm up we have taken off the rear seat pad and things went much better. Actually, it is a big adjustment as it changes the position on the bike and so the set-up. We hadn’t got the time to adjust the suspension, but during the race the bike was better compare to yesterday. In the last lap, I knew Barbera would have tried to overtake Yuki and when they both went wide I braked early and could exiting the curve much faster. I kept a tighter line but he closed a bit and we touched.”
Yuki Takahashi, Humangest Honda, 4th“I really enjoyed today. I started very well and at the beginning the bike was so good that I didn’t realize my rhythm was high. Unfortunately, though, the rear tyre started sliding too much and I had to slow down. Then, the situation settled a bit and so, in the final part of the race, I could push again. The last three laps have been very tough and my goal was to get on the podium. I wasn’t able to do it just for few tenths of a second, but fourth place is a positive result, even because we have gathered important information for next races.”
Martin Cardenas, Wurth Honda BQR, 8th“I am very happy with my race and the bike was very good I am very happy with the way the team worked. I got a good start and was just behind the lead group. But once they pulled a few seconds away from me no way I could keep the pace because the front tyre was sliding I saw three crashes and decided it was best to make sure I held my position the finish.”
Arnaud Vincent, Molenaar Honda, 10th“During the race the conditions were much different to practice, the wind was from a different direction. I rode every lap at the maximum possible and I am really happy with the bike and the team. The engine was very good but we have some work to do on the chassis but that will come step by step.”
Arturo Tizon, Wurth Honda BQR, 12th”I thought I would do better today, I’m happy with 12th place and four points but I expected to run a better pace. The bike was perfect today all race until the tyres went off. But I’m pleased for the team who have worked hard for me all weekend.”
Jordi Carchano, Stop and Go Racing, 18th“I had a clutch problem from the warm up lap. I tried a practice start and burnt the plates. Back on the grid I had no time to check it. I stopped after one lap and the team fixed the problem. I was many laps behind but I rode out the race because I need the experience and to learn about the bike.”
Sebastian Porto, Repsol Honda, dnf – retired at the pits“There is not too much to say just that we are not able to make the bike work the way I need it to feel comfortable. We have worked hard, the team and Honda have done all they can to help me and I am thankful for that.”
Shuhei Aoyama, Repsol Honda, dnf – crash“I am really disappointed with today. I got a good start but in the fast left corner the front tyre slid away and I lost the front end and crashed. It was my own fault the front tyre was cold and I pushed too hard on the first lap. In Qatar we have the possibility to work hard and try to be better.”
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