2001 Grand Prix 500 - Round 8

Fifteen year old Casey Stoner scored a creditable 17th in the 125 race earlier today while the local crowd were disappointed to see McWilliams crash heavily in the 250 race.

Rossi makes the grid fine after his qualifying crash. Garry McCoy not racing again this week due to his injuries and Vincent has stepped on to the Red-Bull Yamaha in his place.

Biaggi got a great start from pole and leads them through turn 1 with Suzuki's Kenny Roberts right behind, Roberts got through in turn 3 to take the lead, Capirossi 3rd, Nakano 4th. Barros up into 4th on the back straight. Barros under Capirossi for 3rd, Roberts still leading from Biaggi. Rossi 11th as they commence lap 2.

Jacque was the fastest man on lap 2 but still in 5th. Rossi took Nakano for 8th. Abe, Cardoso and Ukawa scored a jump start penalty. Rossi up to 7th after putting a pass on Checa, then took Van Den Goorbergh a corner later. Roberts, Barros, Biaggi, Capirossi is the leading quartet on lap 4. Rossi set the fastest lap on the 4th time around and sits in 6th position. Rossi faster again on lap 5 to re-set the fastest lap again.

Rossi tried to take Jacque but the move did not come off and subsequently it lost Rossi a second after he had just spent all that effort making that time up. Rossi looks to be really using his tyres up.

Valentino on Jacque again and makes it stick this time so Rossi now 5th. Barros slides under Roberts for the lead but Roberts gets the better run on the exit to re-take the lead but then ran wide a little on the next corner, Biaggi got Barros after the Brazilian made a small error but Barros took his 2nd position right back. The battle for 2nd has allowed Roberts to pull out around half a second on his pursuers. Rossi through on Capirossi for 4th.

Biaggi into 2nd on lap 10, which is one third of the way through this British Grand Prix. Biaggi up on to the back of Roberts now, into the lead goes Max. Barros through on Roberts for 2nd, Biaggi pulling a small gap over Barros, Roberts and Rossi, hold that, Rossi through on Roberts for 3rd. Haga also on a charge setting fast times and gaining places, now 6th.

Capirossi through on Roberts for 4th. Haga then through on both Roberts and Capirossi to take 4th position.

Rossi starting to challenge Barros for 2nd but Alex is notoriously hard to get by as the Brazilian is extremely good under brakes.

Half race distance - Biaggi, Barros, Rossi, Haga, Capirossi. Australian Anthony West in 14th. Rossi under Barros for 2nd and out after Max.

Rossi into the lead a lap later. Haga has caught right up to the back of the leading quartet. Capirossi 5th then Checa, Jacque, Nakano, Roberts, Gibernau, Criville.

9 laps to run and Rossi has a couple of tenths over Biaggi who in turn had a few tenths on Barros who is being hounded at every turn by a charging Noriyuki Haga.

7 laps to run now and the leading 4 have stretched apart a little with just over half a second between each rider.

Rossi set the fastest lap of the race with 1m33.0 with 4 laps to run and now has 2.3 seconds over Biaggi.

Final lap and Rossi still a clear leader but Barros hounding Biaggi for 2nd, Haga a little further behind in 4th. Rossi made a mistake and nearly ran off but saved it and loses nearly no ground to Biaggi and Barros. Rossi crosses the line to celebrate the win with a stand up on one foot mono, gotta love that especially from 11th on the grid.