MotoGP Race Reports

Valentino Rossi became the first rider in 2003 to take back-to-back MotoGP victories today at Estoril, the Italian overcoming early leader Max Biaggi to take a comprehensive victory - while the final podium position would be decided right at the line.

Having sat out yesterday due to injury, it wouldn't have been unexpected if Toni Elias hadn't even started today's 250cc Portuguese Grand Prix. However, the tough Spaniard not only took his place at the front of the pack, but went on to win in convincing style - distancing himself from a frantic fight for the final podium positions.

Championship leader Dani Pedrosa returned to the top step of the podium at Brno today after an incident - and accident - filled 125cc Czech Republic Grand Prix ended in the young Spaniard's favour.

Stefano Perugini took 125cc German Grand Prix victory by just 0.212secs today at the Sachsenring, the Italian grabbing the lead from Casey Stoner with two laps to go and emerging on top after a three-way final lap fight.

Qualifying saw Perugini take pole position after benefiting from a series of slipstreams in a frenetic final session which seemed more like a race as the 38 riders bunched together.

Sete Gibernau won today's German Grand Prix by just 0.06secs after emerging victorious from a fierce race long fight with Valentino Rossi, that looked to be going the Italian's way until the very final corner.

Rossi had led from turn one, only to find himself caught by the Spaniard, whom he then let by at two-thirds distance. With the Repsol rider studying the Catalan's every move a last lap pass was inevitable and he duly took Sete on the penultimate turn - but the race wasn't over...

After a dramatic race on the track at Donington Park this afternoon the action continued behind closed doors as Valentino Rossi was docked 10 seconds for overtaking under yellow flags and victory at the Cinzano British Grand Prix was handed to Max Biaggi.

Sete Gibernau launched from his second row start to take the lead through the fast kink that is turn one in today's Dutch TT, before he and Biaggi broke the opposition and were left elbowing each other for the lead - but the Roman ultimately couldn't stop Sete escaping to victory.

Steve Jenkner capitalised on race day rain at Assen to pull away from the 125cc field at the rate of over 3secs a lap in the early stages, before holding a firm 10-second advantage over his nearest opposition to claim a long overdue first GP victory - at perhaps the most famous circuit of all.

Randy de Puniet finally took his first ever GP victory, after nearly 40 starts, in today's 250cc Catalan Grand Prix, the flying Frenchman emerging on top after a race long battle with Fonsi Nieto - while Catalan Toni Elias made up an amazing 21 places after being left second to last into turn one.

Qualifying had seen De Puniet hold on to pole position despite failing to improve on his provisional Friday time.

It was the race the capacity Mugello crowd came from all over Italy to see - their heroes Valentino Rossi, Loris Capirossi and Max Biaggi battling relentlessly for 23 laps around the stunning 5.2km circuit for the honour of a home victory.

The trio didn't disappoint, with the reigning World Champion forced to fight right to the flag as Capirossi rode the wheels off his bucking, sliding and wheel-spinning Ducati as he chased the marques first ever GP victory.

250cc rookie Manuel Poggiali got his season back on track in style today at Mugello, taking a dominating victory after his only rival Randy de Puniet crashed out after losing the front of his Aprilia - twice.