Grand Prix 2000 - Round 14 - Rio

Okada flew from the 2nd row grid into first position but may get a jump-start penalty as it looked too good to be kosher. Abe 2nd through the 1st turn but Barros takes him in turn 2. Okada, Barros, Abe, Capirossi is the race order with half a lap down. McCoy from the 4th row of the grid is charging through the field, 5th by the time they crossed the line to commence lap 2. Barros into the lead, hmm. must be the home Brazilian air...

Barros, Okada, Abe, Checa, McCoy, Rossi, Capirossi, Laconi, Roberts, Biaggi is the race order as they commence lap 3. McCoy through on Checa for 4th in his normal totally ridiculous see-saw style entry to a turn - Nutter...

Capirossi in the dirt. McCoy sticks it next to Okada but can't make it stick. Abe into 2nd, McCoy into 3rd. Abe is starting to threaten Barros for the lead. Rossi up into 4th.

20 laps to run - Barros, Abe, McCoy, Rossi. McCoy tries to stick it under Abe but again fails to make the pass stick. Rossi starting to challenge McCoy.

Lap 6 of 24 and Barros still leads from Abe but McCoy will be in 2nd soon, there it is McCoy into 2nd. Rossi into 3rd. Barros has gained a few bike lengths over his chasers due to the battle between McCoy, Rossi and Abe. Roberts back in 10th.

McCoy next to Barros on the main straight but the Brazilian has always been a demon on the brakes and holds him out into turn one. Barros, McCoy and Rossi are running nose-to-tail. McCoy underneath Barros, runs a little wide but gathers it back after a lurid slide. Rossi under Barros in the next turn but runs wide and lets Barros back through in the next turn. The battle between Barros and Rossi may let Garry escape a little.

McCoy sets the fastest lap of the race so far on lap 8. Garry is holding the Yamaha on a balance point now, the slides are longer, smoother and obviously faster.

Rossi under Barros which forces the Brazilian to alter his line to avoid a coming together. Rossi is a man on a mission and immediately closes on the back of Garry after braking very late into turn one. Abe has closed up on the leading trio once again and may also prove a factor before this race is done. Rossi looks as though he is going to stick a pass on McCoy somewhere.

Rossi under McCoy and holds it together. If Rossi wins this race it means that Roberts can't wrap up the championship here this weekend in Brazil unless he can get up into 6th. Checa into the dirt but picks it up and rejoins. Biaggi 5th, Roberts 8th.

Rossi has opened out a few bike lengths on McCoy and is looking very strong with 9 laps to run. Barros under McCoy and looks to have got a second-wind but Rossi has nearly 2 seconds on them now.

7 laps to run and Barros has closed on Rossi by a few tenths but the Italian still holds the commanding position. Roberts through on Gibernau for 7th.

Barros continues to close on Rossi tenth-by-tenth, the gap down to just over a second now. Roberts through on Laconi for 6th, if he keeps that 6th position he has the title wrapped up here tonight in Brazil.

4 laps to run - Rossi, Barros, McCoy, Abe. Rossi pulls a couple of tenths back on Barros but the show is not over yet. McCoy is now a second or more behind Barros and is being challenged by Abe in every corner.

2 laps to run and the gap between Rossi and Barros is now down to 1.2 seconds. McCoy is still holding Abe out to keep his 3rd place but Biaggi will be upon them soon. Rossi has really picked up the pace again and Barros will really have to pull something out of the bag to catch the young Italian before they get the chequered flag.

Final lap - Rossi still holds a big advantage over Barros and unless the Brazilian can perform miracles then the race is Valentino's.

Rossi takes the win. Roberts finishes 6th and takes the championship to become the first father and son 500 world champions in 500 GP history.