As they started lap 2 it was still Biaggi from Rossi, Daijiro Kato 3rd, Carlos Checa 4th.  McCoy back in 16th after that turn 1 incident.

Tohru Ukawa got through on Checa for 4th on lap 4 while the order up front remained static, Biaggi, Rossi, Kato.  Loris Capirossi closed on the back of Checa and started pressuring for 5th.  A few laps later Sete Gibernau moved past Capirossi and stuck to the tail of the 5th placed Checa.

At half race distance Sete Gibernau moved past Checa and started to pressure Ukawa for 4th.  Hopkins entered the pits to retire.

Valentino Rossi pulled some distance on Kato over the next few laps and settled in behind Biaggi for a two rider battle to the finish.  But then on lap 16 of 22 Rossi sat up after running in deep and then went on to enter the pits, his team changed the rear tyre and Rossi went out again.  The time lost of course relegated the reigning world champion to the back of the field.

Rossi's demise of course left Biaggi out in front by himself, the gap to the 2nd placed Kato out to a full 2 seconds with 5 laps to run.  Rossi circulated for a couple of laps but there was no way he was going to catch up enough time to score a point so then retired after pulling a few monos for the crowd.

Biaggi took the clear win.  Kato took the new race lap record on his way to 2nd place.