Loris Capirossi was the fastest two-stroke rider during qualifying, his time was 0.631 of a second faster than his pole time last year.  His team-mate, Alex Barros, is riding the new four-stroke RC211V Honda for the first time here at Motegi.  Barros is riding the team's only four-stroke machine while Loris has to settle for the two-stroke, presumably because Loris has already signed with Ducati for next year.

Akira Yanagawa has debuted Kawasaki's first entry in the premier class of GP racing for 20 years.  The last Kawasaki to compete was ridden by Kork Ballington at the final race of the 1982 season in Germany.  Ballington crashed out of that race but he is the last Kawasaki GP pilot to have scored points after a seventh place finish at the San Marino Grand Prix, also in 1982.  Kawasaki is expected to field a two rider team in 2003, Yanagawa likely to remain and team up with Australia's Andrew Pitt.  But those rider appointments are yet to be confirmed, and there is also talk of Alex Barros moving to the Kawasaki squad.

Last year it was an all Honda podium at Motegi.  Suzuki's Kenny Roberts won the previous 1999 and 2000 races at Motegi.

It is all shaping up for an exciting race, Kato, Biaggi, Capirossi and Checa occupying the front row.  Barros, Rossi, Ukawa and Roberts make up the second row.

The fight for the race settled down to a battle between Alex Barros, in his first outing on the new four-stroke machine, against Valentino Rossi who has been riding the machine all year.  Loris Capirossi was holding up the two-stroke honour in a strong third place for most of the race.  Daijiro Kato was strong early on before a mechanical problem ended his day.

At half race distance the top five consisted of Barros, Rossi, Capirossi, Biaggi and Ukawa.  However, the leading trio were a long way in front of the battle for fourth.  A couple of laps later Ukawa took Biaggi for fourth, the Italian then received a black flag shortly after due to some sort of problem with the M1 Yamaha.  Kawasaki's return to GP racing ended with Yanagawa dumping the machine after getting messy under brakes.

Five laps from the end Rossi went through on Barros for the lead and tried to crack the experienced Brazilian.  This was a great showdown, if only Barros had ridden a four-stroke all year, would we have had a different world champion? 

Barros took the lead from Rossi with four laps to run after the Italian went in too deep.  Rossi is trying to match Barros under brakes but not measuring up.  It seems the four-stroke ideally suits Barros' riding style.  His incredibly quick adaptation to the heavier machine a testament to his ability.

It can also not be said that Rossi was protecting a points lead by settling for second as the Italian has already been crowned 2002 World Champion. 

Barros won this one fair and square, his fifth win in the highest class of GP racing.  Rossi second, Capirossi third.  Honda takes a 1-2-3-4 finish with three four-strokes and a two-stroke. 

Can Barros continue his success when the GP circus visits the Sepang circuit in Malaysia next weekend?