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BARBERA WIN HANDS APRILIA CONSTRUCTOR CROWN Spanish teenager Hector Barbera’s fourth win of the 2004 season handed Aprilia the all-important constructor world championship this afternoon at Valencia. The Seedorf Racing rider dominated in front of a massive home crowd at the 4km venue, taking charge when he passed Andrea Dovizioso on lap four at the Doohan Corner. Aprilia dominated today’s 24-lap race, claiming six out of the top seven finishes as Seedorf Racing team-mate Alvaro Bautista came out on top in a frantic battle to take third place for the third time in the last four races. Barbera’s first win since claiming victory at the Estoril GP in Portugal back in early September also secured him second place overall in the rider standings. He ends the 2004 world championship with 202-points, having come to Valencia only fourth in the standings. On a special note, it was an emotional day for Barbera, who became the first local rider to claim success at the Valencia circuit. The 17-year-old lives close to the circuit and said: “It is a great emotion to win at home. I am the first local rider to win this race and that makes it extra special. It is hard to describe how I feel but over the moon would be close.” Bautista claimed third place to end his impressive end of season spell in perfect fashion, fending off the determined challenge of Pablo Nieto and Sergio Gadea. Nieto eventually finished fourth and like Barbera ended the season with his best result since Estoril. Gadea produced an inspired ride at the end of a brilliant weekend for the 19-year-old Spaniard. Having qualified in fifth position, he looked on course to claim a dramatic maiden podium when he passed Bautista to take third on lap 12. He eventually had to settle for fifth place. Several other Aprilia riders had emotional outings in today’s 125 race, which ended the 16-round world championship. With a new age limit rule coming into force for the 2005 world championship, Roberto Locatelli bowed out with sixth position. That was good enough to secure him third place in the rider standings. Gino Borsoi also left 125 racing on a high note, finishing today’s race in seventh place after he’d led for the first three laps.
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