It was Chambon who got the best run off the line and led them around turn one from Fujiwara, however reigning world champion Andrew Pitt took that 2nd spot off Fujiwara in turn 2.  Foret 4th, Corradi 5th, Casoli 6th, Whitham 7th.

Foret slotted through on Fujiwara for 3rd at the end of the back straight on lap 2.  Iain MacPherson fell on lap 3.  Stephane Chambon fell shortly after setting the fastest lap on the third time around.  Chambon went in to the gravel trap while leading but managed to dig his bike out of the gravel and rejoin the race but well down in the field.  That of course left Andrew Pitt to inherit the race lead.

Fabien Foret started to challenge Pitt for the lead on lap 4 and his Ten Kate machine powered past Pitt to take the lead early on lap 5.  Paolo Casoli worked his way through on Fujiwara for 3rd.  Nobody has built a gap though as the top 6 were covered by less than second.  Vermeulen 8th, Curtain 11th, Muggeridge 13th.  Chambon in 28th following his off track excursion.  Jorg Teuchert crashed out of the race.

James Whitham took 4th from Fujiwara on lap 6.  Kellner 6th, Corradi 7th.  Pitt took the lead halfway through lap 7.  Christian Kellner further relegated Fujiwara, down to 6th now but still only 1 second behind race leader Pitt.

Foret and Casoli both went past Pitt at the end of the straight, Pitt got Casoli back for 2nd in the next turn but Casoli got him once again at the next turn.  Pitt then got shoved out of the way and ran slightly off track and was relegated to 7th after holding the lead a few seconds earlier.

So after the dust from the melee had settled Foret came out in the lead, from Casoli, Whitham, Kellner and Fujiwara.

Top 13 after lap 10 of 23- Foret, Casoli, Whitham, Kellner, Fujiwara, Pitt, Cogan, Corradi, Vermeulen, Curtain, Ulm, Cruciani, Muggeridge.

Katsuaki Fujiwara got through on Christian Kellner for 4th on lap 13.

Paolo Casoli then took the lead from Fabien Foret on lap 15.  Katsuaki Fujiwara had got through on Whitham to take 3rd.  The leading 5 still running nearly nose-to-tail, less than second covering the whole 5 of them.  Andrew Pitt a few seconds behind in 6 with Christophe Cogan right on his case.

Fujiwara then went on to 2nd, and then to the lead!  In no time at all, Fujiwara went from third to 1st, Foret 2nd, Whitham up in to 3rd, Kellner up in to 4th and Paolo Casoli relegated to 5th!   While this was going on early race leader Stephane Chambon had fought his way back from the rear of the field up to 15th after that earlier visit to the gravel trap.

Jamie Whitham slipped under Foret for 2nd on lap 20 but Foret used his Honda horsepower to get that 2nd place back on the next lap.

Katsuaki Fujiwara had a huge moment which knocked both of his feet off the pegs but managed to retain the lead for a few more corners before being overhauled by Foret.  Fujiwara having some major sideways moments at this late stage of the race.

As they started the final lap Foret had the lead from Fujiwara, Whitham 3rd, Kellner 4th and that way the way they finished the race.