Bautista started from eighth on the grid and he fought hard for a podium for three quarters of the race before finally losing touch with Italian Andrea Dovizioso and Australian Casey Stoner. Bautista's team mate, Italian Michele Pirro, was forced to retire with a swingarm problem.
Alvaro Bautista
"This result is fruit of all the hard work the guys in the team have done this weekend to get the feeling back that we had before Mugello. I knew I could have a good race today and after making some positions up at the start I was able to run with the front guys for most of the race. At the end Dovizioso and Stoner were two or three tenths quicker than me so I couldn't follow them but I think this is a positive result for us, especially after a couple of difficult races for us. I hope this means we are on the right lines for the upcoming races but I want to thank everybody in the team for helping me to get my confidence and feel for the bike back, as well as all the sponsors and everybody who has kept faith in us."
Michele Pirro
"I am really upset right now because this is our fourth retirement in a row. It is another technical setback and I am extremely disappointed by it."
Press release courtesy of San Carlo Honda Gresini.
Alvaro Bautista
"This result is fruit of all the hard work the guys in the team have done this weekend to get the feeling back that we had before Mugello. I knew I could have a good race today and after making some positions up at the start I was able to run with the front guys for most of the race. At the end Dovizioso and Stoner were two or three tenths quicker than me so I couldn't follow them but I think this is a positive result for us, especially after a couple of difficult races for us. I hope this means we are on the right lines for the upcoming races but I want to thank everybody in the team for helping me to get my confidence and feel for the bike back, as well as all the sponsors and everybody who has kept faith in us."
Michele Pirro
"I am really upset right now because this is our fourth retirement in a row. It is another technical setback and I am extremely disappointed by it."
Press release courtesy of San Carlo Honda Gresini.