Capirossi was leading the championship when he and team-mate Gibernau crossed lines under-braking for turn one; Sete's front brake was crushed in the contact that followed, literally flipping the Spaniard over, before he and Capirossi bowled over several unsuspecting riders ahead of them. Capirossi tried to limit the championship damage by riding injured at several of the following rounds, but was ultimately unable to recover the lost points.
The Italian returns to the 2007 event just seventh in the standings, with one podium to his credit, but has been encouraged by a new specification engine - which he took to an early lead, before slipping to seventh, last weekend.
Meanwhile, Australian
Chris Vermeulen remained in fifth place with a steady eighth place in Mugello after his win in Le Mans, but with Rizla Suzuki team-mate
John Hopkins now breathing down his neck - just four points adrift.
Brazilian veteran Alex Barros returns to his European base after a brilliant third place in Mugello on the Pramac d’Antin Ducati, his first podium since 2005 - having raced in WSBK last year. Barros is currently ninth in the championship, just two points behind local rider
Toni Elias, who finished sixth in Mugello after crashing out at the previous two grands prix.
World champion
Jorge Lorenzo returns home to Spain leading the 250cc championship by 27 points - but still fuming about his last lap collision with Alvaro Bautista in Mugello. Lorenzo crashed after being bumped by Bautista before remounting to finish in eighth place - while Bautista went on to win. Lorenzo finished second in the race last year behind the Honda of
Andrea Dovizioso who is second in the championship this year.
Spaniard Hector Faubel grabbed the lead in the 125cc World Championship after his second win of the season in Mugello. Lukas Pesek was leading the championship but crashed on the last bend in Mugello and has now dropped to third behind Hungarian Gabor Talmacsi.
