Estoril GP: Alvaro Bautista carves his way to an impressive win

Reigning 125cc champion Alvaro Bautista made up for a horror start to barge his way from 12th to first in today’s Portuguese 250 Grand Prix race at Estoril.

Bautista started from sixth on the grid, and after a bad start dropped another six places into the middle of the busy 250 pack.

Up front it was pole man Andrea Dovizioso who took the control at the front, edging out a comfortable lead ahead of championship leader, and reigning 250 champ, Jorge Lorenzo.

Alex De Angelis, who will be confirmed as a Gresini Honda MotoGP rider tomorrow, lost ground on the two leaders and dropped back on his works Aspar Aprilia.

But there was nothing wrong with team-mate Bautista’s bike as he pushed his way right to the front, reeling in the front pair and overtaking with ease.

Bautista eventually took the win by 4.367, leaving Dovizioso rueing the speed of the Aprilia machinery in second and Lorenzo crossing the line in third.

Eugene Laverty racked up two championship points with a 14th place finish after crashing in qualifying yesterday, as did Dan Linfoot who didn’t manage to finish today’s race.

Jorge Lorenzo now has a 51 point lead from Andrea Dovizioso.