Rossi takes Gib on the last
lap
Rossi's tyre from Gib's camera - they did touch!
Another Rossi win
Melandri on the podium again |
Another Rossi wipeout, but only just. Gibernau was in
front for the majority of the race but he couldn't shake
The Doctor off his hindquarters. Valentino was watching
Sete for almost the whole race, making some test manoevres
on the penultimate lap before sticking it up the inside
as we knew he would on the last lap. Almost inevitable.
Alex Barros was with the lead pair and looking menacing,
passing Rossi on lap 9 until a sudden loss of the back
end, appearing to be mechanical, took the unfortunate
Brazilian off half a lap later.
A big fight was happening in the next group back with
Biaggi, Checa, and Hayden, then Milandri fighting his
way up the field to battle pass all of them. Marco Milandri
got himself in front gradually, even retaining his third
position after a mistake took him grass tracking. The
ex WSB mob were up in the fight too with Xaus (pronounced
Chaus now!) and Edwards swapping places with Nicky Hayden.
Shakey Byrne retired on lap 8. Neil Hodgson had to fight
the field from a bad grid start, scraping his way up to
10th.
Results:
1. Rossi
2. Gibernau
3. Melandri
4. Biaggi
5. Hayden
6. Edwards
7. Xaus
8. Capirossi
9. Checa
10. Hodgson
Championship Standings
=1. Gibernau 126
=1. Rossi 126
3 . Biaggi 93
4. Checa 56
=5 . Melandri 54
=5. Edwards 54
7. Barros 48
8 . Capirossi 42
9. Hayden 38
10. Abe 33
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