Kato, the reigning 250 World Champion was fast from the start of the race, forming the final part of a three man breakaway group with Biaggi and Rossi, and taking a new lap record of 2:00.605 in the process. Looking set to score third place after a somewhat processional race at the front, he unwittingly benefited from the misfortune of the current championship leader Rossi and gained the highest place finish of his rookie MotoGP season so far.

"I am very happy to have taken second place in my first ever four-stroke MotoGP race," said Kato in the post-race press conference. "In the first part of the race I just wanted to stay smooth on the machine, in the second half I tried pushing hard to catch Valentino. He eventually had a problem, so you never know what can happen in racing. I don't know when it may be possible for me to win because I still have a lot to learn about suspension and tyres on a machine like this."

Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) saw a gritty ride turn into a deserved podium after Rossi's initial exit. Running at a good pace, but unable to join the leading trio at any stage, Ukawa's performance was hampered by the huge high-side crash he suffered in the morning warm up.

"After my crash at Donington I was still not perfect, so I knew when I fell this morning it would not be good," explained the third place man. "It did not make my old foot injury worse but I hurt my hip and back and I was in a lot of pain. I tried to push forward in the race but I found it hard to concentrate. Also, because of the crash, my machine was not perfect, but I am very satisfied to get third. It is not the way to I want to close the gap on Valentino but I am still happy with my position in the championship."

Retirement was a bitter blow for Rossi, who was sitting in second place shortly before his tyre problem, biding his time for the final laps to come around. He suddenly slowed, pitted for a new rear, and rejoined the race out of the points scoring positions. Circulating in 18th and last place, and with no chance of scoring points, he retired with two laps remaining.

"The race was going fine," affirmed Rossi. "Me, Kato and Biaggi had a good pace. The bike had a few little problems but this seems to be a Yamaha track and not a Honda one -because I couldn't seem to make any impression on Biaggi. Half way through the race the tyre went and that was that. I came in to change the tyre, went out again, but I had lost a lot of time so I came in again. It will be interesting to see what they say about the tyre. This has never happened in my career before. Anyway, I still have a good lead in the championship with six races left. Not a disaster."

The first two-stroke home belonged to Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500), who had a lonely race to sixth position, despite not being fully fit after his Assen wrist injuries.

"Considering my present physical condition, and the lack of mobility and strength in my right arm, I had quite a good race," understated Capirossi. "I think we had a good tyre compound and our machine settings were ideal."

In ninth place Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) was far from his best 2002 form, after some radical pre-race changes in machine set-up.

"This morning we changed the front forks during warm-up and instead of finding a solution to the problems we are having, we made matters worse for the race," said Barros. "The positive aspect is that I was able to score some points, which is important for my overall classification in the championship." Barros retained his status as top two-stroke rider in the series, fifth overall.

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) had an eventful race, eventually taking his Bridgestone-shod two-stroke to 12th.

"I got a good start, for a two-stroke," said the Dutch rider. "Only the chicane proved difficult, as one of the Suzuki riders missed his braking point and cost me time. I got in a good fight with Barros, Jacque and McCoy at one stage and I really enjoyed that. Then I got some vibration and I decided to slow a bit. I had picked up some rubber on my rear tyre."

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) experienced problems once more in a race situation, but stuck to his task to take the final point for 15th place.

"I tried to stay with the riders ahead but it was really impossible," said a frustrated Harada. "From the first laps the rear tyre slid and I could not push hard without risking a crash too much. I thought it better to finish the race and at least I scored a point. That part at least was good."

Despite Rossi's no-score he still enjoys a handsome lead in the overall championship after 10 of the 16 rounds. Rossi's unchanged total of 220 heads Ukawa, on 140, with Biaggi third on 134.

Quotes

Daijiro Kato, Fortuna Honda Gresini, 2nd: "I think that I have made a good race and I'm really satisfied. At the beginning I felt I could go faster because I had no problems. The bike is fantastic and the team prepared it perfectly for the race. At the end of the race I wasn't too sure about tyre performance and how long they would stay good. Then I preferred to check the situation and only think of a positive result. If this first time had to be a test I can say I was really fast and that from the next race I can begin to think of taking a victory."

Fausto Gresini: "Honestly the Rossi tyre problem gave us an advantage, but the team is really happy. For us this was a really important event. It had to be a test and we are on the podium: this means that the bike, the rider, and the team are of great value. Now our objective is to improve what we know about this machine. Our adventure has just started."

Tohru Ukawa, Team Repsol Honda: 3rd: "A podium is great and so are 16 points. After the big crash I had in the warm-up this morning I really didn't think I would be standing on the podium. I fell heavily on my back. I was just beginning to feel better after Donington! The bike was going well this morning and I caught a neutral between gears. It's not the way I want to close the gap on Valentino but I am still happy with my position in the championship. The final 6 races will be very close."

Loris Capirossi, West Honda Pons: 6th: " Considering my present physical condition, and the lack of mobility and strength in my right arm, I had quite a good race and I am satisfied with my performance. I think we chose a good tyre compound and the bike settings were ideal. I was very motivated at the start and I was determined to stay with the leaders but when the four-strokes overtook me I could not stay with their pace. Everyone knows the situation and it is not necessary to repeat it. But there is one thing worth pointing out: Kato has always been behind us up until now. He gets a new bike at Brno and suddenly, curiously enough, he is fighting for victory."

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons: 9th: " I am unhappy with the result, not so much for finishing in ninth place, but more over for not having lapped in the times I should have. I guess I was lapping slower than I thought. This morning we changed the front fork during the warm-up, but instead of finding a solution to the problems we were having, we made matters worse for the race. The positive aspect of the race is that I was able to score some points which is important for my overall classification in the championship."

Sito Pons: " Loris Capirossi has a very good race indeed, especially after a two-month lay-off. He gave it his all on the bike, as is always the case with him, and he finished as the fastest two-stroke bike. Alex's race, on the other hand, was disappointing. I think that after Saturday's fall during Free Practice he did not find the right settings for his track and as a result he did not perform as well as he might. In normal conditions he could have fought hand in hand with Loris to be the fastest two-stroke bike here."

Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Kanemoto Honda, 12th: "I got a good start, for a two-stroke, and ran wide at the first turn and carried good speed. Only the chicane proved difficult as one of the Suzuki riders missed his braking point and that cost me time. After that I got into a good fight with Barros, McCoy and Jacque, and really enjoyed it. When McWilliams came passed us I couldn't stay with him. Then I got some vibration and decided to slow a bit, I had picked up some rubber on my rear tyre. In terms of tyre performance we made a step forward today. I ran a hard front and a medium rear and it worked out well for us."

Team owner manager Erv Kanemoto: "That was a good race for us, Jurgen rode really well, and the tyres performed today. From yesterday indications were that we could run well here. The front wheel chatter we had yesterday was minimised for the race, all in all that was the best combination we could have run with. It has been a really encouraging weekend. The tyres looked good at the end, they look s if they performed constantly through the whole race. We now o to Valencia for a Bridgestone test, next Thursday and Friday, where Shinichi Itoh will test for us. Bridgestone are working really hard and they want us to test new tyres. This race was our first really promising step."

Tetsuya Harada, Team Pramac Honda: 15th: "I tried to stay with the riders ahead but it was really impossible. Since the first laps the rear tyre slipped too much and I could not push hard risking to crash. I took many risks even if I was slower than the others so I thought only to finish the race."

Valentino Rossi, Team Repsol Honda: Race position; DNF - "The race was going fine. Me, Kato and Biaggi had good pace. The bike had a
few little problems but this seems to be a Yamaha track and not a Honda one. I couldn't seem to make any impression on Biaggi. Half way through the race the tyre went and that was that. I came in to change the tyre. I went out again but lost a lot of time so I pulled in again. It will be interesting to see what they say about the tyre. This has never happened in my career before. Anyway I still have a good lead in the championship with 6 races left. Not a disaster."