What is the circuit like from the perspective of a GP winner?
I had a special sensation when I entered the enclosure. For a while I was trying to take in that which was my first victory, until the time came to move on and think about other races. Thanks to the victory in Rio, I achieved one my dreams to win a World Championship GP. However, the most important of my dreams is to become World Champion. This year it was not meant to be, but I have every intention of devoting myself to it in 2004.

Nevertheless, there were no indications that you would be able to achieve that victory?
The truth is that in Brazil everything went very well. I had never made the podium before and I hadn�t thought about winning, but in the previous race, in Portugal, I started to battle and in Rio everything started to go well. I felt strong and in the last few laps I took the decision to go all out for the victory. I had a fantastic race and it was because of this that I won.

Is this going to be a special moment for Derbi with this race?
I am sure it will, as you cannot do a thing without a bike which runs perfectly. At the start of the year we were in 22nd place and with a load of problems, and little by little we have been evoluting. The team and the riders have been working in depth and to win at least one race has been a fair prize. We deserved something like that.

What�s more, it is important to have achieved the victory with a team which is completely Spanish with regard to techonolgy. We have a Spanish sponsor and the project is very exciting. The start has been very tough, more than what we had expected, but we are starting to reap rewards and I know that next year everything will go even better.

How is it possible that there are so many young riders in the World Championship?
It�s true, records of precociousness are being broken. The older riders in the championship think, at 16 years of age, I am very young. However, the riders who win races are getting younger and younger. I have been riding since I was three years old, therefore I already have many years of experience.

What was your first bike like?
My father made it for me.� As I was so little, there weren�t any in the shops and he made it for me. I started participating in regional championships in Mallorca, until I took part in the races in the Copa Aprilia. Until I reached the Derbi Championship, I had gone through many categories and the support offered by Derbi has been fundamental in order for me to able to triumph. Now I see everything more optimistically.

Who is your favourite rider?
I admire many riders in the championship, but the one I most admire is Max Biaggi. I like his style of riding very much. I would also like to point out my team mate Emilio Alzamora. A very good rider who has been world champion and who has been having a very bad year as he has not felt as ease with his bike. I hope he goes back to being his old self.

How did they greet you in the Derbi factory on arriving back from Brazil?
Marvellously. I celebrated it with loads of people and I even went around the work line signing autographs for workers who congratulates me. I was even surprised to see how much they knew about all the races. It would seem that many of them had been in the box in all the races. It is nice to see that so many people are happy with our work and I am glad to be able to recompense them in some way.

And now?
To finish the season in the best way possible. There are several races and the last one is in Valencia. It would be a tremendous thrill to end the World Championship with a victory. And from then on, wait for the work plan which the team will organize for the 2004 season. There is much work to do but the end of 2003 has convinced us all that we are capable of winning. We need to do this very well during the winter in order to arrive at the 2004 World Championship in perfect conditions.

How does all this affect the team?
This has been a prize for all of them, for the technicians, mechanics, for Gian Piero Sacchi, the team manager, who has always supported us and also for Caja Madrid, our sponsor. Knowing we are able to win allows us to work with greater desire, having the back-up of the whole factory. Under these conditions it is easy to get involved to the maximum in order to win.

Do you think you are capable of fighting for the title?
I�m sure. This season, in which things have been difficult, has been good as we have learned how to sacrifice ourselves, to not stop changing things and to believe in ourselves. With time, it has been demonstrated that this is a good team, that the bike runs perfectly and I know that I can battle amongst the best. The most important thing will be to be in the fight for points and victories.

Do you have a message for all of those who were surprised by your victory?
I hope they enjoyed the victory. I think this has been a good year for Spanish riders and I am convinced that soon we will win more world titles, not only in 125cc but also in other categories. And for those who are thinking about next season, I would ask that they take me into account because without a doubt I am going to be fighting for the title.