Motor Cycling: Local hero puts skids under rivals to win in Jerez

Alex Criville (No 4) on his way to winning the Spanish 500cc Grand Prix yesterday in Jerez. Criville held off the world champion, Michael Doohan, and current leader Max Biaggi to win the race and dedicated his success to his late father.

The Spaniard slipped past Biaggi and then Doohan to take the lead 12 laps from the end and held on to win by less than half a second. Doohan finished second with Biaggi a close third and another Spaniard, Carlos Checa, fourth.

Criville, who had crashed in morning practice, thanked his father, Jose, who died from cancer earlier this year and added: "It was a very hard race. I had them behind me right up until the end," Criville said. Photograph: Allsport