MotoGP Rd 2: Gibernau crashes, Barros/Honda win, Rossi extends title lead

By lap eight, Barros was cutting back Gibernau's lead, with the pair running at such a hot pace that Valentino Rossi could not stay with them

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Article Summary

April 17, 2005 A Honda won the Portugeuse Grand Prix today with World Champion Valentino Rossi second, but it was the Honda of Alex Barros that greeted the chequered flag first not the expected Honda of Sete Gibernau. Gibernau crashed out in light rain while leading the race at mid distance in the first MotoGP race run under the new rain rules which do not allow for race restarts due to rain during the race. Barros’ win was not entirely unexpected. He was the fastest rider in all sessions throughout the weekend, fastest qualifier and appears to have regained the form he last showed at the end of 2002 when he beat Valentino Rossi several times on equal machinery.

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