After practice sessions and qualifying severely affected by, at times torrential, rain Casey Stoner again stamped his authority on the qualifying session without really having to try too hard. His main rival Valentino Rossi, yet again the only rider that could anywhere near his time. As seems to be usual, when the race started, Stoner leap out to an early lead and it took a little time for Rossi to get past the Kawasaki of Hopkins into second place to start the chase to catch him. Stoner continued to increase his lead to over a second, then inexplicably on the sixth lap, presumably responding to Rossi closing the gap, he lost control of the Ducati and ended up in the gravel. The bike was too badly damaged for Stoner to do more than another half lap before retiring. This left Rossi with the lead which he kept to the end. In an inspired race, Toni Elias on a satellite Ducati turned a fourth row start into a second place finish his best for some time. Loris Capirossi finished third.
BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Motorbikes | Stoner crash gifts Rossi victory
