Rossi and Biaggi mix it up in Spain

A POST-RACE altercation with arch-rival Max Biaggi did not take the gloss from a sensational Catalunya Grand Prix win for young Italian Valentino Rossi.

The Honda rider took his fourth victory of the season ahead of compatriots Biaggi (Yamaha) and Loris Capirossi (Honda) and then had his argument with Biaggi on the way to the rostrum.

Both were warned about their behaviour by the FIM, but no further action was taken.

Despite being pushed wide on the first corner of the Spanish race and dropping all the way back to 17th position, Rossi made a breathtaking comeback to take the lead on lap 13 and dominate for the second half of the race to finish with a 2.579 second gap over Biaggi.

"My start wasn't perfect - I think I was down to fourth or fifth at the first corner, when Sete Gibernau came too fast up the inside and sent Criville and myself wide," said Rossi.

"We both lost a lot of time but I made a good recovery, found a good rhythm and the tyres and the bike worked well. When I passed Gibernau and Capirossi for the lead I was able to set fast lap times, stay quiet and take the win." Rossi has extended his championship lead over Biaggi to 26 points, with Capirossi third a further nine points back.

Suzuki rider Gibernau did well to stay with the front group throughout the race after lining up on the grid in 10th spot, and he was easily the highest placed home rider despite being pushed out to fifth place by Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) on the last lap.

His cause was helped by the departure of world champion Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) on lap four and Alex Barros (Honda) on lap five, both riders sliding into the gravel at high speed.

Yamaha rider Norick Abe, who was unable to stay with the leading pack after a positive start, and Tohru Ukawa (Honda), came in sixth and seventh positions respectively, while Carlos Checa (Yamaha) crossed the line in eighth.

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Proton) passed Noriyuki Haga (Yamha) with five laps remaining to record a season best ninth place, although Alex Criville (Honda) was unable to close the gap and finished behind the Japanese rider in eleventh.

Australian Garry McCoy (Yamaha) elected not to race to give his scaphoid injury suffered one month ago more time to heal: "I know I could go reasonably fast, but I'm far from being 100 per cent fit and the hot weather here makes riding the bike even harder. I want to come back as strong as when I left and this weekend that just isn't possible," he said.

Fellow Australian Mark Willis finished 18th on his Pulse, while Anthony West (Honda) failed to finish.

In the 250 class Daijiro Katoh took his fifth victory of 2001, with all five coming from pole position. Tetsuya Harada came in second behind his Japanese compatriot for the fourth time this year despite pushing the Honda rider all the way to the line.

Aprilia man Harada maintained his 100 per cent podium record however and remains in touch with Katoh at the top of the rider standings. Third place went to Italian Roberto Rolfo after Marco Melandri crashed out of the race with twelve laps to go.

The 125 race was, as always, enthralling. It has been the most open class this season and now only 50 points separate the top ten riders. Italian veteran Lucio Cecchinello eventually took the victory after a race long battle with Toni Elias, which almost ended with both riders dumped in the gravel on the last lap as the Spanish youngster made a make-or-break surge for the line.

Third place was enough to propel Manuel Poggiali to the top of the rider standings as Gino Borsoi failed to score points after making an off track excursion and Masao Azuma crashed out.

MUGELLO 500cc RESULTS:
1 V Rossi (Honda) 44:57.142
2 M Biaggi (Yamaha) +2.579
3 L Capirossi (Honda) +3.016
4 S Nakano (Yamaha) +3.057
5 S Gibernau (Suzuki) +3.789
6 N Abe (Yamaha) +4.505
7 T Ukawa (Honda) +4.569
8 C Checa (Yamaha) +13.259
9 J vd Goorbergh +13.343
10 N Haga (Yamaha) +19.083 500cc RIDERS' POINTS:
1 Rossi (ITA) 116
2 Biaggi (ITA) 90
3 Capirossi (ITA) 81
4 Abe (JAP) 74
5 Nakano (JAP) 63
6 Criville (SPA) 62
7 Barros (BRA) 60
8 Ukawa (JAP) 45
9 Gibernau (ESP) 40
10 Roberts (USA) 37 500cc CONSTRUCTORS' POINTS:
1 Honda 141
2 Yamaha 114
3 Suzuki 58
4 Proton KR 30
5 Pulse 3 Next round: Assen, Holland, June 30