Young Alex Gobert has been thrown in at the deep end by being chosen to replace the injured Adam Fergusson after the planned replacement, Ralf Waldmann proved too slow.  Alex is only 17 and easily the least experienced of this large field.  Let's hope his debut on the world stage is a good one.  Can't possibly imagine it turning out as good as older brother Anthony's world debut on a Kawasaki at the Phillip Island round of the World SuperBike Championship some years ago.  That race has gained legendary status.

Muggeridge has switched to what is the factory Suzuki squad but may be a little disappointed with his move because his old team has pole with Fabian Foret at the controls and they also fill the second spot on the grid with Pere Riba.  Imagine what the Ten Kate Team could do with official factory backing!  That said they do run Pirelli tyres and if the 2000 season is anything to go by Pirelli make the best qualifying tyre in this class of racing.

Can we have another Aussie win!

They are off.   Pirovano and Riba get the best launch.

Riba, Bontempi, Foret, Fujiwara is the race order on lap 3.  Foret up into 2nd.  Australians Muggeridge, Curtain and Thomas are 8th/9th/10th.

Foret now starting to close on his team-mate and race leader Riba.   Whitham down, losing the front in the normal R6 way.

Curtain ahead of Muggeridge for 6th with 16 laps to go.  NB: For the overseas readers, Kevin Curtain is fairly new to the world stage but is well proven in Australia aboard an R1 where he is the reigning and multiple time Australian Formula Xtreme champion.

Curtain's Honda is not short of speed as he is often recording the fastest speed down the main straight.

Riba has a 3 second gap over Foret with 13 laps to run.  But Foret looks to be holding up Bontempi a little.  Dean Thomas in the kitty litter but still upright.

Bontempi up into 2nd in a forceful move and out after Riba, but the Ten Kate man out in front has 5 seconds over the Yamaha rider.  But will Riba's Pirellis last the distance?

Vermeulen down unhurt with 8 laps to go after making up a few places on a bit of a charge.  Disappointment for the sole Castrol Honda rider.  Teuchert down also.

5 laps to run - Riba, Bontempi, Foret, Kellner, Fujiwara, Curtain, Muggeridge.

Kellner under Foret after trying for lap after lap to get through on the Ten Kate man but Riba is still way out in front.  Fujiwara also under Foret and may have some problems as he is spitting lots of flames out of his pipe.  Curtain is 5 seconds behind Foret so if he has to slow up enough for Curtain to make a second a lap the Australian will take Foret's 5th position.

3 laps to run - There is a freight train from 7th through to Pitt in 14th all running nose to tail.

Riba, Bontempi, Kellner, Fujiwara, Foret, Curtain, Pirovano are the men up front but Riba still has a considerable lead.

Final lap - Riba way out in front.  Bontempi trying to hold out Kellner who in turn is trying to keep out Fujiwara.  Riba takes the win , Bontempi 2nd, Kellner 3rd.  Curtain got Foret for 5th.

Young Alex Gobert finished a creditable 25th.  It is great to see that Kevin Curtain has scored a competitive bike!

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