Revitalised Abe 2nd in race and points.

The revitalised Norick Abe produced the perfect start, today in Jerez, to led the 22-bike field into turn one of the 500cc Spanish Grand Prix.

Eventual race winner Valentino Rossi slipped through at the following right-hander but couldn't shake off the #6 Antena 3 Yamaha, even making a mistake on lap 13 and allowing Abe to re-take the lead. Over the next seven laps Abe led the race with Rossi hounding him at every turn

"I did it again, another good start, but this time I was able to stick with Rossi," said Abe. "I was riding hard to stay with him, but I was riding well. The bike was perfect and I could put it where I liked. The differences between the two bikes are very little and we were running the same tyres so it was just a matter of waiting for a mistake."

Then on lap 20, entering the final hairpin onto the front straight the Honda rider made his move and went on to produce a string of lap record breaking circuits to win the race by 2.307 seconds, and build his championship lead to 75pts. Meanwhile Abe has now moved into second in the standings with 44 points to his credit.

"Rossi looked like he made it half way through the race but I think he wanted me to get through so he could see where I was strong," explained Abe. "So I changed my plan and slowed down for three laps to see if he would go by again. When he didn't I changed my thinking again and put in three or four very hard laps to try and win, but then the front tyre began to slide very much and I changed my plan again. Finish was my new goal, and I'm happy with the result."

Abe's teammate Jos? Luis Cardoso, exited the 27 lap race on lap four after gearbox problems prevented him from finishing.