Italian Valentino Rossi, known as ”Il Dottore”, won the MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday, racing the 28 laps of the 4,182km circuit in 46 minutes and 34,911 seconds into his fourth consecutive victory.
Japan’s Makoto Tamada, who took the pole position, finished second with 46:40,022. Brazilian Alex Barros raced his way into the third spot, clocking 46:43,068.
Italian Max Biaggi, the fourth starter on the grid, was forced to leave the race earlier after a problem on the back wheel of his Ducati crashed him into the ground. Fellow Ducati rider Neil Hodgson of Great Britain also left the circuit after the fuel hose on his bike tore, soaking him in petrol.
At the 125cc race, the trophy went to Spaniard Hector Barbera, who rode an Aprilia and completed the 23 laps in 41 minutes and 1,272 seconds. Mika Kallio, of Finland, who rode a KTM, took the second spot ahead of Spaniards Jorge Lorenzo, third, and last year’s winner Pablo Nieto, who fell to the fourth position.
Andrea Doviziozo, the 18-year-old world champion from Italy who took the pole position, quit the race after the 11th lap.
The first spot in the 250cc race went to Toni Elias of Spain, who clocked 44 minutes and 23,399 seconds on his Honda. Elias was closely followed by Argentine Sebastian Porto, the second position holder with a time of 44.23,722. Frenchman Randy de Puniet, riding an Aprilia, finished third. — Sapa-AP