Rossi makes it seven in a row

Despite a poor start, Valentino Rossi claimed victory in Germany, making it seven wins in a row for the Italian.

It was his Honda team-mate, Tohru Ukawa, who led the early stages of the race, until Alex Barros found his way past on lap seven, leading an eight-man fight for the lead. Barros was locked in a tussle with Frenchman Olivier Jacque, but both riders failed to finish.

It was Max Biaggi who took third, followed by Ukawa, and Carlos Checa. Shinya Nakano too fifth, Abe sixth, and Jeremy McWilliams finished in seventh, ahead of Aoki, McCoy and Hoffman. Ryo and Jurgen van den Goorbergh were the only other finishers.

A rain interrupted 250cc race finished with Marco Melandri first, ahead of Honda’s Roberto Rolfo and Yamaha’s Sebastien Porto. The three Aprilias of Fonsi Nieto, Roberto Locatelli and Toni Elias took fourth, fifth and sixth in a race stooped on lap 23.

Britain’s Leon Haslam managed 13th in the wet, just ahead of his teammate Jay Vincent.

The 125cc race was won by Arnaud Vincent. Vincent led all race long, despite the best efforts of Alex De Angelis. There was a battle for third, which was eventually won by Steve Jenkner, who reached the final step of the podium ahead of reigning champion Manuel Poggiali. Britain’s Chaz Davies finished in 20th position.