Spanish hope Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia) gave the crowd the result they wanted in the 125cc race with his maiden win at home. Lukas Pesek (Derbi) was second and Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) third. Reigning World Champion Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) crashed out after 11 laps.
Bautista had the race under control after pulling out a lead over early pace-setter Pesek. He had a three second advantage over his Czech pursuer at the flag. But the action for third place was fraught throughout this 23-lap race – Pasini fully deserving his podium finish.
First Honda rider home was Gabor Talmacsi (Humangest Honda RS125R) in eighth who said, “I was physically not at one hundred percent and couldn’t breathe properly. I also felt weak. And I had problems with the quickshift again. For ten laps it was fine and then it wasn’t. So I just tried to hang onto my position.”
Luthi said, “This has been a bad weekend from start to finish. I needed four pain-killing injections in my arm and I had to wear a brace on my shoulder too. But the engine bogged on the line and I was lying 23rd on the first lap. Then I caught up some places but then hit a bump and crashed – all my fault.”
Fifteen-year-old rookie Bradley Smith (Repsol Honda RS125R) finished 17th, one place behind Sandro Cortese (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R), and was the third highest Honda finisher. He said, “The bike was hard to steer on a full fuel load, but I learned a lot today.”
Gabor Talmacsi, Humangest Honda, 8th“Physically I didn’t feel at 100%, I couldn’t breath properly through my nose and I was weak. Also, as it happened during practice, a quick shift problem slowed me down. For the first ten laps everything was good, but then it started not working and so I thought to keep my eighth position. Here Aprilia machines were very competitive, but I’m sure that in Qatar it will be better for us.”
Sandro Cortese, Elit Honda, 16th“The bike was really good today and the whole race was good – until the last corner. I was leading the group I was in as we came to the corner so I took a line little more to the inside to protect my position but in the middle of the corner Corsi hit me and I high-sided off the bike. I am not very happy about it but that’s racing. I’m OK apart from a badly bruised left hand.”
Bradley Smith, Repsol Honda, 17th“I got a good start and running up to the first corner everybody went to the right and I went outside but turning in I got bumped out and lost places. That was the first time I had raced with a full fuel load and it made the bike difficult to turn. I was running 1m 51s laps and had to push hard to get into 1m 49s times when the fuel load went down. When I found my rhythm I caught the group in front of me and passed them. On the last lap I had to be aggressive to hold on. It was my first grand prix so I am quite pleased in the circumstances. I learned a lot today.”
Mike di Meglio, FFM Honda, 21st“During the warm up, this morning, I crashed after 4 laps; I entered a corner a bit too fast and then I was on the ground. The Team FFM Honda GP 125’s technical staff made a really good work to provide me a bike for the race and they had to change some important parts such as exhaust in very short time.
I started quite well and I was 11th in the first laps of the race but I quickly felt that there was a problem with the rear of the bike. Each lap, I lost places and the machine became more and more difficult to ride properly. It was impossible to keep the right trajectory because the rear was very unsteady and this made me loose precious time lap by lap. I hope we will solve this problem for Qatar Grand Prix in 2 weeks.”
Lorenzo Baroni, Humangest Honda, 22nd“I made a good start, but all the time I was changing gear I had to close the throttle and this problem made me lose time. Also, my injured left foot was a bit painful today and so I couldn’t push as I would and score some points. Anyway, I’m happy to have finished the race: it has been a great emotion racing in front of all these people.”
Michele Conti, Valsir Seedorf Racing, 29th"During the test and practices of this GP I’ve learned to be more aggressive in curves like other riders. Unfortunately today I rode like in the European Championship. I’m happy to have raced: is important for me to accumulate experience. I think I can improve in few time my performances".
Joey Litjens, Molenaar Honda, 33rd“I am a little disappointed with my race I have a lot to learn and that’s why we’re here. My start was not so bad and the bike was good or the first few laps and I passed a few riders. But I started to have trouble with the feeling from the front and could not go faster.”
Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda, dnf – crash“The whole weekend from A to Z was a bad. Today I raced with a brace on my injured collarbone and I had four pain killing injections. Then off the start the engine bogged down and I was only 23rd at the end of the first lap. When I caught the group ahead and got into 16th place I hit a bump and crashed. It was my fault entirely. I am not so pleased with myself.”
Fabrizio Lai, Valsir Seedorf Racing, dnf – retired at the pits"I like this track and last year I was on the podium. This year I made a mistake during the official session that compromised the race, too. The shoulder and, above all, the hand ached and I had problem facing the corners. During the first lap I overtook 10 riders easily but then I lost positions due to the hand ache. I preferred to retire because I didn’t want to take the risk to crash out again. I could had been the best of Honda riders today… but we have to recover the gap from Aprilia and KTM to became competitive again ".
Aleix Espargaro, Wurth Honda BQR, dnf – retired at the pits“The bike was not so bad today. My start was OK but I didn’t catch so any places. Then I saw I was catching the group ahead so I pushed to catch them. When I caught them I was OK but my boot zip broke and it was flapping about. Somehow my foot came off the footrest and went under the bike and it hurt so much I had to stop. I have to go to the clinic but I don’t think it’s too serious.”
Tito Rabat, Wurth Honda BQR“It was a very important for me to finish the race today and I did. Racing with the world championship riders was good experience for me as I prepare for the Spanish Championship. I enjoyed the race and learned a lot and I have to thank everybody in the BQR Honda team who have worked so well for me this weekend.”
Related Linkswww.world.honda.com
