Barros wins at Estoril

The first win for the Honda team in 2005 has come from GP veteran Alex Barros, at the second round at Estoril in Portugal.

Barros took the win on the Camel Honda RCV, from the Yamaha of Valentino Rossi, and the Repsol Honda of Max Biaggi. It was a historic win for Barros, as he took the first ever flag-to-flag MotoGP race, with new rules seeing the racing continue despite intermittent rain showers, and heavy rainfall in the final few laps.

Why is Shakey out for the next round? See MCN out on Wednesday.

From the start, front row sitter Sete Gibernau took the lead, with a 1.7 sceond gap bu the end of the first lap, with Barros in third. The Brazilian moved past Max Biaggi to claim second at the start of the second lap, and was then followed by Rossi.

Barros was closing in on Gibernau, when on lap eight white flags signalled rain. The weather wasn’t enough to warrant rain tyes for another eight laps, when race leader Gibernau found turn one too slippery and crashed out of the lead, followed by eighth place John Hopkins.

It was now down to Barros to survive to the end, as Valentino Rossi was unable to break away from Max Biaggi and close on the leader. A second shower with five laps to go saw Colin Edwards fall and remount, while Rossi saved losing the front wheel. Brit James Ellison took 15th, while Shane Byrne had to pit even before the race began, but returned to the track to get further test data and take 16th.

In the 250cc race, Casey Stoner took his first win of the year from Andrea Dovizioso and Randy De Puniet. Brit Chaz Davies retired on lap seven. In the 125cc race, Mika Kallio took a narrow win from Hector Faubel, with Thomas Luthi third.

MotoGP Estoril results:

Barros

Rossi

Biaggi

Melandri

Checa

Edwards

Hayden

Nakano

Capirossi

Xaus

Bayliss

Roberts

Rolfo

Elias

Ellison

Byrne.