Roberts wins in Catalunya rain

Wet conditions made it difficult on the Catalunya circuit.

American Kenny Roberts rode to victory in the Catalunya 500cc Grand Prix after taking advantage of Alex Barros' misfortune.

Second place went to Japan's Norick Abe on the Yamaha and Italy's Valentino Rossi came third on his Honda.

Britain's Jeremy McWilliams came 12th, riding an Aprilia.

Roberts now leads the riders' world championship with 125 points after seven races, but at one stage it looked as if he would have to settle for the runners-up spot.

The Brazilian Barros, on his Honda, began in pole position but it was Suzuki star Roberts who led for the opening part of the race.

Rain on the circuit made racing treacherous and wet tyres were the order of the day, making the 23 lap race a test of concentration and good handling skills.

Closing laps

Spain's very own Carlos Checa was the first big name to suffer from the conditions, spinning off on lap six in a bid to overtake second placed Barros, and fellow countryman Alex Criville soon followed suit.

We had the rain tyres on there all day, but by the end they felt like slicks

Kenny Roberts

Barros, with nobody close on his tail, attacked Roberts on lap 13, but a blown engine moments later ended any chance of glory in the rain of Spain.

The American had a clear road ahead of him in the closing laps and won in a time of 51 minutes 31.504 seconds.

After the race Roberts admitted that controlling the bike was very difficult, but that the withdrawal of two of his closest rivals during the race eased his problems.

"We had the rain tyres on there all day but by the end, they felt like slicks," said Roberts.

"I saw (Alex) Barros and (Carlos) Checa were challenging me but they went out of the race."

Earlier in the day Frenchman Olivier Jacque won his first ever 250cc race in 48 minutes 23.116 seconds, with Japan's Tohru Ukawa over four seconds behind and countryman Shinya Nakano a further four seconds adrift on his Yamaha.

Italy's Simone Sanna took the 125cc category on his Aprilia in a time of 47 minutes 54.390 seconds with Honda's Masao Azuma, second, and Gino Borsoi in third on his Aprilia.

Leading results from Sunday's Catalunya Grand Prix (circuit length 4.727 kms):

500cc (118.175kms)

1. Kenny Roberts (U.S.) Suzuki 51 minutes 31.504 seconds (average speed 137.612 kmh)
2. Norick Abe (Japan) Yamaha 51:35.958
3. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Honda 51:41.045
4. Nobatsu Aoki (Japan) Suzuki 51:44.125
5. Max Biaggi (Italy) Yamaha 51:48.728
6. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Honda 51:57.410
7. Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Netherlands) TSR-Honda 52:17.192
8. David De Gea (Spain) Modena KR3 52:34.449
9. Tetsuya Harada (Japan) Aprilia 52:53.288
10. Yoshiteru Konishi (Japan) TSR-Honda 53:05.174
11. Sebastien Legrelle (Belgium) Honda at one lap
12. Jeremy McWilliams (Britain) Aprilia at one lap
13. Regis Laconi (France) Yamaha at one lap
14. Shane Norval (South Africa) Honda at one lap
15. Tadayuki Okada (Japan) Honda at one lap
16. Garry McCoy (Australia) Yamaha at two laps

Not classified (did not finish)
Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda at 13 laps
Alex Criville (Spain) Honda at 15 laps
Sete Giberanu (Spain) Honda at 20 laps
Carlos Checa (Spain) Yamaha at 21 laps

World championships standings (after seven races):

1. Roberts 125 points
2. Checa 100
3. Abe 85
4. Capirossi 73
5. Aoki 72
6. McCoy 61
7. Criville 59
8. Rossi 57
9. Barros 52
10. Okada 43
11. Laconi 43
12. McWilliams 38
13. van den Goorbergh 38