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Can Rossi do it again? Check out the grid. The crowd looks incredible, nearly all the fans are in stadium style seating which makes it look a little a bit too organised for a motorcycle race. No wonder they go bananas after the race if that is the first chance they get to move! Abe got the jump and away into the lead, Rossi had a terrible start and even ran onto the ripple strip near pit lane as he drifted to the edge. No problem for the Italian superstar though as Rossi is in the lead 4 turns later, I think he may just disappear.... Nakano in 3rd, Goorbergh in 4th! Start lap 2 - Rossi, Abe, Nakano, Goorbergh, Roberts, Capirossi, Barros, Biaggi. Rossi already has quite a gap over Abe who in turn has many bike lengths on Nakano. Goorbergh was swamped at the end of the straight and got pushed back to 7th. These 500s sound awesome, the 4-strokes will sound incredible too but I don't know if they will give me that spine tingling buzz that a 500 2-stroke does. Capirossi through on Roberts for 4th. Abe quicker than Rossi on lap 3 and the gap now just over 7-tenths, but the man on a charge is Capirossi who just set the fastest lap. Loris has now gone through on Nakano for 3rd. I have tipped Rossi, Capirossi, Nakano, in that order for the MCNEWS.COM.AU tipping comp' so maybe I will have some luck this week. But no. Abe is really starting to challenge Rossi now, Capirossi will be right with them shortly to make it a 3-way struggle. Walker into the dirt. Cardoso retires. 20 laps to run - Rossi, Abe, Capirossi, Nakano, Roberts, Barros, Biaggi, Ukawa. Only 3 tenths between Rossi and Abe, with Capirossi the same distance behind Abe. Criville is working his way through the field a little, now up to 6th, much to the delight of the Spanish crowd. Rossi and Abe still right together and Capirossi has actually lost a little ground to the front pair. Criville moves up again, through on Roberts for 5th. 1999 versus 2000 world champion battle, the crowd is going absolutely crazy with Criville looking good for the first time this year. Abe takes Rossi at half race distance after forcing the Italian a little wide. Biaggi in the gravel, the 4-times 250 World Champion looked his best during his first few races on the 500 a few years ago now, maybe a loss of confidence...... Capirossi has a moment and loses a few places. Nakano now promoted to 3rd, Criville 4th and will surely be through on Nakano within the next couple of laps. There it is, Criville through and up into 3rd, it is great to see the former world champion looking a little like his old self. Abe looks good, really good, he can hold a tighter line than Rossi and looks a lot more comfortable, relaxed nearly, but still is yet to make a break over the Italian. 10 laps to run and the third placed Criville is some 4.6 seconds behind the leading duo, the pair up front are fighting hard and this may allow Criville to close a little........... Abe has not been able to get away from Rossi, they are nose to tail and it looks as though Rossi is showing a wheel now and then, maybe in the hope of pressuring Abe to use his tyres up.......... McCoy up to 8th, Haga 9th. Rossi is so much faster into the corners than Abe but the Yamaha looks to maybe have a little more top end power. Rossi underneath Abe on lap 22 of 27. Rossi, Abe, Criville, Nakano, Ukawa, Barros, Roberts, McCoy, Gibernau, Capirossi, Haga, Biaggi. Rossi just set a new lap record, 1m43.779s, he has made Abe look as though he is going flat out backwards. This is incredible, he has pulled 2 seconds on Abe in less than a lap.... 4 laps to go - Rossi is on it hard and tying his Honda up in knots a little out of the corners. Abe must have a problem, Criville will have him before the end of this race.... Rossi, Abe (4 secs), Criville (6secs). Only 1.3 seconds between Abe and Criville now with 2 laps to run. Criville is going to do it, the ground will shake with the Spanish crowd's celebrations when that move comes. Hold it, Abe is starting to hold the gap to Criville now, but hold on, that was only through 1 split, Criville now 6 tenths behind, no not enough laps, Rossi first, Abe 2nd, Criville 3rd. Rossi crosses the line standing on the pegs with his hands on his hips. Criville gets mobbed by fans on the cool-down lap, he must be the happiest man on the planet right now, lets hope it marks a return to the front by the '99 world champ.
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