Eurosport - Sun, 13 Apr 17:54:00 2008

Aprilia's Alvaro Bautista won the 250cc class race at the Portuguese GP at Estoril from Gilera rider Marco Simoncelli and Mika Kallio on the KTM.

Kallio (57) now leads the world championship standings from Polaris World Aprilia's Mattia Pasini (45) and Aprilia Toth's Hector Barbera (39), who crashed out and finished eighth respectively.

Spaniard Bautista was a comfortable victor after passing pole-sitter Simoncelli on the first lap, extending his lead throughout much of the 26 laps.

Simoncelli held on for second as his soft-compound tyres wore down. Finn Kallio almost passed him at the finish line but contact between them just allowed the Italian to retain the runner-up spot.

Thomas Luthi got faster as the race went on and managed to work his way past Japanese riders Hiroshi Aoyama and Yuki Takahashi for fourth after Pasini and Lotus Aprilia's Alex Debon crashed out.

Bautista was pleased to continue his excellent record at the Portuguese track and move from 11th to fifth in the championship standings.

"This is a special circuit for me. I have won here for the last three years in the 250s and 125 class," he said.

"To win here today is very special because in the first two races we had a lot of bad luck.

"We are back fighting for victory now. This win at Estoril is also meaningful because there are lots of fans here pushing me.

"The race was difficult. I tried to get my rhythm and managed to increase the distance with respect to Marco, and continued that to the finish line."

Simoncelli reflected on a first podium finish of his 250 career, as well as a debut podium for Gilera.

"I started to have problems towards the end of the race," he said. "It was very close on the final lap with Mika behind me, but I held on.

"In the end I am happy to be on the podium - absolutely delighted to take my first podium in the series."

Kallio thought that his rival should not have drifted across the track on the home straight.

"It's good to be in the points, but second place was so close," he commented. "In the beginning I had problems and could not push hard. After some laps I began to feel better and managed to catch Simoncelli.

"He had more problems with his tyres but I could not find a place to make a move. Then I went for it on the straight and it was not nice for me when we touched, he should not have come across.

"Without it I'd have had a second place finish, for sure."