An ambitious overtake on the brakes from Barros on the final lap sealed his fate, shooting off down the escape road at Honda corner before re-joining in second place.

For Rossi, it was his 50th race win in all classes of GP competition, and his 11th victory of a quite outstanding season, during which he was crowned champion four races early. At Valencia in two weeks time he will have the chance to equal another Honda legend, Michael Doohan, in terms of the most races won in a single MotoGP season, 12. Rossi is also within touching distance of the record single-season points score in the premier class of racing.

The RC211V was once more the dominant machine on the MotoGP grid, filling the first four places, and propelling Rossi to a new lap record of 1:32.233, and a weekend-best top speed of 323.5km/h, achieved in the first qualifying session.

Despite his good race up and wise tyre choice, Rossi stated that the race was as tough as any this year, despite being gifted the win in the final analysis.

"The 50th GP win is a very good result for me; a dream, and the race with Alex was very difficult," said the four-time GP champion. "My start was good from the second row, and I didn't lose any time, so it seemed possible to follow Alex. In the beginning his rhythm was incredible but I tried to push hard all the time and I knew that when his tyre started to slide I could come back on him. When I arrived I waited a bit for the last laps to come around, then passed him. On the final lap I expected his attack at the hairpin so I stayed very close to the inside. He overtook me but he ran off and the battle was finished. Today the bike worked like I wanted, and I could ride it the way I liked, but Barros was still very difficult to beat."

For Barros, a small technical glitch contributed to his eventual second place, after what was his 150th consecutive Grand Prix start.

"I tried to push at the beginning and I had a slightly softer tyre than Vale, so maybe I had some opportunity to make a gap on the first 10 or 15 laps," said Barros of his early race tactics. "I kept a good rhythm when Valentino arrived and as soon as he overtook me I tried to get back past him. I was having a little problem with the clutch, however, and I had no engine braking at all, because it was slipping so much. But Vale deserved the win."

Rossi's team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) found himself too far from the rapidly disappearing RC211V duo of Barros and Rossi to go with them, and ended up in a constantly changing battle with another two Honda riders for the final podium spot. It was Ukawa's first podium finish since Round 11, at Estoril, and he is now just a single point from the second place rider in the championship table.

"I am quite happy because it has been a long time since I was here on the podium," said the Repsol rider. "Staying with the two top riders was bit too difficult because of the gap they had on me, although I tried to follow them in the early laps. Kato and van den Goorbergh were with me anyway and we made a big fight. I am happy to finish third and I have to beat Biaggi again next weekend to finish second in the championship."

Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini RC211V) out-dragged Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) across the line by less than a tenth of a second to take fourth place.

"I did not find this race easy because it was difficult to change direction," said the slightly built Japanese rider. "The transmission and clutch didn't give us any problems in this race."

For his part, van den Goorbergh was delighted to be challenging for a podium finish again, after some difficult races in his 2002 campaign. Using his high cornering speed and nimble NSR to outmanoeuvre the heavier four-strokes of Ukawa and Katoh, the Dutchman was nonetheless at a disadvantage under acceleration.

"I was the best two-stroke rider into the first corner and once I had got a good feel for the tyres I was confident. I knew we were in for a good race," grinned van den Goorbergh. "When Kato joined Ukawa and me, I thought we were racing for third place. I knew he could pass me on the run down the main straight and that's just what happened. I was very happy with my race anyway and I was smiling away during the race under my crash helmet.

Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) was forced to retire on lap three, after suffering front suspension problems on his two-stroke.

"I don't know what happened," said a bemused Capirossi. "The front suspension was vibrating a lot and it was uncontrollable. I had two choices, come into the pit box or fall off. I am disappointed because the track was in perfect condition and I had a good feeling. I think I could have at least equalled the result of van den Goorbergh, and maybe have battled for another podium finish."

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) stuck to his task during the cool Phillip Island race, finishing with two points for 14th place.

Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda, 1st: "The race result was great. I remember thinking when Doohan got 50 win's was this possible? 50 for me it is like a dream! I'm also very, very happy as the bike is working well again and today I ride the bike like I want to. I am having fun again! The team has worked so hard to understand the problems we have had over the last few races and I think we now have a found a solution! Although I qualified in seventh position I was really happy, as I knew we had found a solution to the problems that we experienced in Motegi and Sepang. I didn't want to say anything until we make a race to prove the point. We win here and it shows we are now back on track!"

"I made a good start from the second row of the grid and it is possible to follow Barros. He was incredible and I was not going to give up. I knew for sure that the last lap would be fun. Barros made a small mistake and I arrive first. I'm very happy, as we have found the potential of the bike again. Phillip Island is an incredible circuit and we make my bike go very, very good here."

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons: 2nd: "I tried to pull away off the start because I knew that I had a slightly softer tyre than Rossi. I opened up a small gap, but he caught me and after he passed me I followed him and tried to regain the lead a couple of times. I had a problem with the clutch on the final laps which caused me problems changing gear. On the last lap I tried to muscle past him but I lost control of the bike and I went straight on, but at least I managed to keep the bike upright and finish second. It was a great race and since I have ridden the same bike as Rossi we are equal on victories and in the last Grand Prix I will try and win again."

Tohru Ukawa, Repsol Honda, 3rd: "I'm really happy as it's been a long time since I've been on the podium. I made a good start and try to follow Barros and Valentino. They went and I had a good battle with Kato and van den Goorbergh. Kato's bike seemed faster than mine on the straight but I was able to make time in the corners. All weekend the bike has felt good round here and I am really pleased to again close the gap on Biaggi. I really want to make it a Repsol Honda one-two at the end of the season so Valencia will be an important race for me and the team."

Daijiro Kato, Fortuna Honda Gresini, 4th: "It wasn't easy because during the weekend we didn't find the best setting for the bike. My bike was sliding quite a lot today and this made it difficult for me to change direction on this track. The transmission and the clutch didn't give me any problems. Now I can relax a little and then go to Valencia where I hope to finish the season in the best possible way."

Fausto Gresini: "I'm satisfied after such a difficult two days of practice. In fact we couldn't find the optimum set up for the rider. Anyway the situation improved during the warm up and he could have made the podium, if he hadn't run a little wide at the hairpin on the last lap. Anyway it was a positive experience because we learned more about our RC211V and finished the race."

Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Team Kanemoto Honda, 5th: "My only pre-race worry was my start, I haven't been quick off the line in the last two races. In the warm up I practiced my first turn braking point in the warm up when I started from the pit lane, so I knew precisely where I could brake after the start. I was the best two-stroke into the corner, together with Garry McCoy. I overtook a couple of guys to take fourth at the end of the first lap. Once I could feel the tyres I was confident I would have a good race.
The balance of the bike was really good and the engine was fast. I got Ukawa on the brakes to go third but I knew I could not catch Rossi. When Kato joined Ukawa and me I knew I was racing for third. At one point Kato dropped back by one second and I thought that, if I could sty with Ukawa I might get third but Ukawa slowed a bit and Kato caught us again. I saw Barros go up the slip road and thought we might get him but we didn't. I could hear Kato behind me on the last lap and knew he would power passed me on the start finish straight, and he did. I feel really good about this result, I was smiling inside my helmet while we were racing."

Team owner manager Erv Kanemoto: "We couldn't ask for more from the race. I'm really happy, for the whole team, Jurgen and particularly Bridgestone. When we started this project in January last year with Nobuatsu Aoki and Shinichi Itoh doing all the testing we were aiming to get to where we are today, they deserve a lot of the credit for this result, they worked really hard. This is a difficult racetrack for tyres, the last corner really builds up high temperatures in the tyres but the combination we ran here handled it really well. I never doubted it all weekend, we were always on the pace with the best out there. Like I said, I'm real happy with this. Now we can go to one more track this season and confirm the result of today."

Tetsuya Harada, Pramac Honda Team: 14th: " The situation is the same. I have many difficulties in the corners and the tyres we chose were completely damaged after a few laps. So I decided to avoid risk and end the race. I do not feel satisfied but this is the situation and I am not able to change it!"

Loris Capirossi, West Honda Pons: DNF: " I don't know what happened. The front suspension was vibrating a lot and the bike was uncontrollable. I had once choice: come into the box or slide off. I am disappointed because the track was in perfect conditions and I had good feelings. I think I could have at least equalled the result of Van der Goorbergh and maybe battled for another podium finish."

Antonio Cobas: (Technical Director): " Loris told us that the bike was vibrating in the front, but viewed from the outside it was impossible to determine any problem. I am sure that it is a problem in the interior of the front fork and we will have to check it out over the next few days to see what the problem is."

Sito Pons: " It is very strange what happened to Loris. It is a real shame because he could have finished on the podium as he did in Motegi. Alex, meanwhile, had a magnificent race, in spite of the clutch problems that caused him to commit a couple of errors. Thanks to the lead he built up he was able to finish second after running off the track and he now scored his third podium finish on the four-stroke. The results of the team during these three overseas races have been very satisfactory with one victory, on second place and two third places in three races. We are now really looking forward to the final race in Valencia."

Shinichi Itoh, Team Kanemoto Honda, DNF: "My start was not so good, I think I was about 19th at the end of the first lap. I had to push hard to catch those in front of me. I got up to right behind Nakano but he ran off the track and threw up a lot of stones that showered the bike and me. One of them worked its way into the engine and my throttle stuck open, I had to stop, it was very difficult to ride the bike."