Ukawa pips Rossi in South Africa

Tohru Ukawa held off Repsol Honda team-mate Valentino Rossi to take the MotoGP win in Welkom, South Africa today.

The pair again proved the RCV four-stroke’s dominance finishing over twenty seonds ahead of third place man Loris Capirossi on the West Honda NSR two-stroke.

Rossi was leading on the last lap when a mistake nearly had the Italian off. He recovered but another mistake handed the cool Japanese rider the win.

Marco Melandri gave Aprilia the win in the 250s and defending champion Manuel Poggiali romped home on his Gilera in the 125s.