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CRASHES DENT BARBERA AND LOCATELLI HOPES LEADING title contenders Hector Barbera and Roberto Locatelli lost crucial ground in the battle for the world 125 championship after both crashed out of today’s British GP at Donington Park. Under grey and gloomy skies, Barbera’s hopes of extending his impressive record of scoring points in 18 consecutive races were cut short when he crashed at the notorious Craner Curves on the opening lap. The Spaniard escaped injury but his first failure to score points since the Catalunya GP over a year ago dented his hopes of claiming the world title, as big rival Andrea Dovizioso went on to win the 25-lap race. Another of Aprilia’s top world title prospects also suffered a disappointing Donington clash. The race had started on a dry track after the 20-minute morning warm-up session had taken place on a drenched 2.5 miles circuit. And experienced Italian Locatelli looked well placed to consolidate his second place in the championship and maintain the pressure on Dovizioso when he crashed out of third place at the double apex Coppice Corner on lap 23 while hunting down impressive Alvaro Bautista. Locatelli did manage to get his Aprilia machine out of the gravel but he retired with no chance of breaking into the top 15. He said: “I made a mistake. I had some problems with the front but until that moment I was happy with my pace. Maybe I lost concentration for a split second. Aprilia honour today went to Bautista as he claimed second place to collect his career first podium finish. The 19-year-old Seedorf Aprilia Racing rider, who started from ninth position on the grid found himself in third when he passed Mika Kallio on lap five, and three laps later claimed second with a pass on Locatelli at the first corner. He said: “I am over the moon and this first podium will take some time to sink in. Getting that first podium is always very important and this is the perfect reward for all the hard work I have been doing with my team. It really paid off today. Finally this weekend we managed to get a good set-up after some problems and I’m absolutely delighted.” Aprilia still holds a comfortable lead of 42-points in the all-important constructor world championship standings going into the remaining seven races. The season resumes in Brno at the Czech Republic on August 22 after a three-week summer break.
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