Grand Prix 2000 - Round 11 - Brno

A heavy shower fell at the end of the 125 race but the track had dried completely by the time the riders hit the Brno circuit for the 250 race. Australia's Anthony West was starting from a lowly 16th position on the grid.

The two Chesterfield Yamaha's got a great start with Nakano the leader and team-mate Jacque right behind him, Melandri 3rd, Ukawa 4th. West up to 10th.

Ukawa under Melandri in a great move where he seemed to be able to hold an impossibly tight line. A lap later Ukawa got under Jacque for 2nd in another inside move. A couple of corner later the Japanese Honda rider hit the front and I must say that from looking at the tight cornering lines he seems to be able to take he might just clear out! Melandri through on Jacque for 3rd.

Melandri through on Nakano for 2nd! Waldmann is in 5th and only a couple of bike lengths down and closing on the leading quartet with only just over a second covering the top 5 with 16 laps to go. West still in 10th.

Nakano back through on Melandri for 2nd with 15 laps to run. Jacque under Melandri on the next lap, the top 5 are still covered by around a second. Katoh & Battaini are 4 seconds behind and fighting for 6th.

Nakano under Ukawa on lap 9 for the lead and in doing so set the fastest lap. Nakano set the fastest lap again on lap 12 but Ukawa continued to stick right to his tail. The leading duo had opened a bit of a gap on Jacque and Melandri who were battling for 3rd.

Nakano set the lap record on lap 14 and opened up half a second over Ukawa.

4 laps to run - Nakano 1.6 seconds over the 2nd placed Ukawa with Jacque and Melandri further back and fighting hard for 3rd. Vincent in the kitty litter.

2 laps to go - Nakano has over 2 seconds on Ukawa who in turn had nearly seconds on the 3d placed Jacque who has broken away from Melandri a little after a long battle with the young Italian.

Last lap - Nakano has this wrapped up and unless Ukawa make a cock-up then he will finish in 2nd with Jacque 3rd and Melandri 4th. But Jacque has closed a lot of ground on Ukawa with half a lap to run but the Japanese Honda rider holds on for 2nd.