 Crivillé started his season off with two points finishes in the form of ninth and sixth at the Japanese and South African rounds, still struggling with an underperforming and difficult bike.His first podium arrived at the Spanish race.Having qualified a lowly twelfth on Saturday due to set-up problems with his bike, he dropped to thirteenth on the opening lap, he fought his way back to eighth place by lap 10, which became seventh when he overtook Biaggi, who made a mistake when running wide on the same lap.