Troy Bayliss in qualifying

The following photos are a bit crap as they're from the telly, but (maybe) better than nothing...

Gibernau leads

Biaggi keeps Rossi out

Rossi pushing that Yam

Gibernau had pole, but from the start we had Checa, Gibernau, Biaggi, Rossi in that order. Rossi soon undercut Biaggi on lap 1, then moments later Hodgson was taken out in a 3 bike pile up on the same lap.

The front four stayed in the same positions for the next few laps, with Rossi gradually losing the back of Gibernau and Gibernau unable to make any decent moves on the lead Yamaha of Carlos Checa, until suddenly with 17 laps to go Checa ran a bit wide and Gibernau almost ran him off the track in his eagerness to get past. Moments later Biaggi took Rossi, so two Honda moves on Yamahas in one lap.

On lap 17 Rossi made a corner mistake and lost a load of space on the front 3, but by lap 19 he was getting close to the back of Biaggi again.

On lap 21 the front 5 runners were in qualifying order, until Colin Edwards regained his fifth position from Melandri.

Rossi made a good attempt at getting on the podium with 3 laps to go, but had to admit defeat. Gibernau got the flag and still leads the championship, even with a nasty bout of flu.

Troy Bayliss came home in 8th position - nice to see him finishing and finishing well. Jeremy McWilliams managed a good 13th position after a penalty for a false start.

1. Gibernau
2. Checa
3. Biaggi
4. Rossi
5. Edwards
6. Milandri
7. Barros
8. Troy Bayliss
9. Tamada
10. Capirossi

Championship Standings

1. Gibernau 66
2. Biaggi 56
3. Rossi 51
4. Barros 38
5. Checa 36
6. Edwards 29
7. Hayden 27
8. Capirossi 20
=9. Melandri 15
=9. Tamada 15