Rossi heads all-Italian podium in Italy

Valentino Rossi overcame tough challenges from his countrymen to take the win at Mugello in Italy today, Sunday June 8.

It was works Ducati rider Loris Capirossi who made the best start, giving the Italian crowds a reason to cheer from the off. Pretty soon he was joined by Rossi and Camel Honda rider Max Biaggi.

Biaggi managed to force his way to the front on lap five, with Rossi moving to second on lap seven. Capirossi was still in contention, but it was Rossi on the move. Seven laps later Rossi slipped past Biaggi at the end of the main straight. Capirossi made a late charge to take second place, and the fastest lap of the race, with Biaggi settling for third.

Behind the three Italians were a trio of Japanese riders, with Makoto Tamada in fourth, Shinya Nakano fifth and Torhu Ukawa sixth. Seventh and eighth were Spaniards Sete Gibernau and Carlos Checa, Colin Edwards was ninth and Olivier Jacque completed the top ten. British rider Jeremy McWilliams retired on lap five on the Proton Kenny Roberts machine.

1) Rossi. 2) Capirossi. 3) Biaggi. 4) Tamada. 5) Nakano. 6) Ukawa. 7) Gibernau. 8) Checa. 9) Edwards. 10) Jacque. 11) Melandri. 12) Hayden. 13) Kiyonari. 14) Hofman. 15) McCoy. 16) Pitt

DNFs: McWilliams. Aoki. Bayliss. Haga. Barros. Hopkins. Roberts.

250cc results:

1) Poggiali. 2) Nieto. 3) Battaini. 4) Rolfo. 5) Guintoli. 6) Elias. 7) Matsudo. 8) Porto 9) West. 10) Olive. 11) Marchand. 12) Debon. 13) Davies. 14) Smrz. 15) Faubel. 16) Gemmel. 17) Nigon. 18) vd Lagemaat. 19) Pistoni.

DNFs: Randy de Puniet. Alex Baldolini. Eric Bataille. Johan Stigefelt.

125cc results:

1) Cecchinello. 2) Pedrosa. 3) Nieto. 4) Dovizioso. 5) De Angelis 6) Ui. 7)Perugini. 8) Borsoi. 9) Barbera. 10) Pellino. 11) Giansanti. 12) Corsi. 13) Kallio. 14) Azuma. 15) Luthi. 16) Talmacsi. 17) Simoncelli. 18) Stoner. 19) Ballerini. 20) Locatelli. 21) Vincent. 22) Conti. 23) Sabbatani. 24) Angeloni. 25) Harms. 26) Aldrovandi. 27) Toth. 28) Bautista. 29) Pirro. 30) Camier. 31) Lenart.

DNFs: Jenkner. Lorenzo. Lai. Simon. Alzamora. Martin. Di Meglio.

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