World SuperSport 2002 - Round 5 - Monza

Ten Kate Honda's diminutive French star Fabien Foret won his second World Supersport championship race of the year after a spectacular final corner move to secure victory at Monza.

Foret led a Honda 1-2 as the talented young Australian Chris Vermeulen looked set to give his Van Zon Honda team a debut win after leading on the final lap in the 16-lap battle. But Foret tailed 19-year-old Vermeulen in the all-CBR600, 170mph blast to the final corner before out-braking the young Australian for victory.

"I thought my chance of winning had gone when I made a few mistakes with about five laps to go but I gave it one last effort and it paid off," said Foret who led the race on seven separate occasions.

Vermeulen took his first podium finish of the year with second while Japanese Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara moved into third place on the last lap ahead of reigning champion Andrew Pitt.

Vermeulen commented: "I don't know how many years of experience you need to be able to win at Monza but I obviously didn't have the lead covered as much as I thought I had. I'm still happy to take my first podium finish of the year."

Championship leader Stephane Chambon took fifth place to retain his lead of the championship as five points now separate the top three riders in the series with Foret moving into second place in the points standings, ahead of defending champion Pitt.

Fans' favourite Paolo Casoli took sixth with fellow Italian Piergiorgio Bontempi seventh and Ten Kate Honda's Iain MacPherson eighth for the third time in the last four races.