Estoril provided the backdrop to a drama filled 125cc race where championship leader Julian Simon crashed from the lead with eight laps remaining, whilst fellow championship contenders Nico Terol and Bradley Smith also crashed out of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
Bradley Smith was able to gain an early lead before running wide on the seventh lap, Jack and Jones Aprilia rider Terol who did not see Smith clipped the rear of the Bancaja Aprilia and was spun off the track. Terol was able to rejoin the race at the back of the field whilst Smith fell to sixth place, eventually moving back up the field to fourth behind Simon, Pol Espargaro and Sandro Cortese.
By this stage of the race Simon was able to set a pace that Espargaro and Cortese struggled to match, on the sixteenth lap and with more than a five second lead Simon made a breaking error and was forced to rejoin the race in thirteenth place.
Simon’s error left Espargaro, Cortese and Smith to battle for victory with Espargo crossing the line 0.395 seconds in front of Cortese and Smith.
Fourth place went to Aprilia’s Stefan Bradl who crosses the line ten seconds behind the podium finishes. Fifth place was granted to Joan Olive whilst Sergio Gadea, Esteve Rabat, Dominique Aegerter, Johann Zarco and Randy Krummenache rounded out the top ten.
Simons championship lead was reduced to 50.5 points with three rounds remaining, whilst Bradley Smith moved into second place in the championship on 163.5 in front of fellow Aprilia rider Nico Terol.
Aprilia having already won the Manufactures Championship for 2009 now sits on 298.5 points in front of Derbi on 168 points.
