Podium for Fonsi Nieto and Alex Barros in a GP marked by the rain.
The Spaniard and the Brazilian finish third in the 250cc and MotoGP respectively under very difficult conditions. Simoncelli, Rolfo and Gibernau, winners in Jerez.
Fonsi Nieto and Alex Barros clinched two podiums for Repsol in an extremely complicated Spanish GP due to the rain that didn’t stop falling over the Andalusian circuit throughout the day. But despite the extremely delicate track conditions, the races were really entertaining with victories of Simoncelli in 125cc, Rolfo in 250cc and Gibernau in MotoGP.
Alex Barros’ podium in the premier category gave a big satisfaction to the Repsol Honda Team after a complicated start of the season. The Brazilian rider, very much recovered from his shoulder injury, used his experience under the awful conditions to clinch a carefully worked third place. Without any option to fight for the victory, with Gibernau and Biaggi far away in the front, Barros lapped wisely and alone during the second half of the race. In the first half, however, he had to fight with a group made up, amongst others, by Carlos Checa and Valentino Rossi offering all spectators some of the best images of the GP. Nicky Hayden finished fifth after a good start, but he went off-track thus restraining his chances.
Fonsi Nieto gave the touch of excitement to the day with two excellent last laps together with the Australian Anthony West. The well deserved podium finish is a reward for the Spanish rider who had already proven in other GPs that he had a good riding style on wet tracks. Roberto Rolfo won the race with no rivals. Frenchman de Puniet also rode alone while Fonsi was the one who had to defeat most rivals. His team-mate Sebastián Porto, who started from the pole position, did not feel comfortable on the flooded track of Jerez and finished seventh.
The same thing happened to Pablo Nieto in the 125cc race, the opening race of the day. He made a bad start and that was the instant where all his chances were gone. He made up positions, showing his aggressiveness and managed to finish ninth but he never had any chance to fight for the victory. Gadea finished 17th
