Qatar MotoGP: Barbera takes 250GP victory

Aprilia rider Hector Barbera has bounced back from a pre-season knee injury to win the first 250GP race of 2009 in Qatar.

Barbera didn’t have it all his own way, after underdog Jules Cluzel led from the start, stretching out a healthy leader over the following pack.

Honda rider Raffaele de Rosa looked odds on to take the final step on the podium but was pushed back on the final lap by reigning 125cc champion Mike Di Meglio.

1 Héctor Barberá  Pepe World Team  26:50.940
2  Jules Cluzel  Matteoni Racing  26:51.766
3  Mike Di Meglio  Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia  26:57.121
4  Hiroshi Aoyama  Scot Racing Team 250cc  26:57.549
5  Raffaele De Rosa  Scot Racing Team 250cc  26:57.596
6 Thomas Luthi  Emmi Caffe Latte Aprilia  26:57.612
7 Alvaro Bautista  Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia  26:58.548
8  Ratthapark Wilairot  Honda Thaï  26:59.289
9 Roberto Locatelli  Gilera Metis  27:05.972
10 Gabor Talmacsi  Balaton Racing Team 250cc  27:11.288
11 Hector Faubel  Thai Honda PTT SAG  27:11.405
12  Shouya Tomizawa  CIP Moto-GP250  27:19.342
13 Lukas Pesek  Auto Kelly – CP  27:19.846
14  Alex Debon  Aprilia Aeropuerto-Castello-Blusens  27:24.719
15 Alex Baldolini  WTR San Marino Team Aprilia  27:27.928