Biaggi streaks away as Rossi edges out McCoy

The Italian Max Biaggi raced to a comfortable victory in yesterday's 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno, but the real interest was the battle for second place between Valentino Rossi and Garry McCoy.

The Italian Max Biaggi raced to a comfortable victory in yesterday's 500cc Czech Republic Grand Prix in Brno, but the real interest was the battle for second place between Valentino Rossi and Garry McCoy.

Biaggi started from pole on his Yamaha and led all the way. Fellow Italian, Rossi, on a Honda, was second with the Australian McCoy, on a Yamaha, third. Having set lap records in practice and qualifying, Biaggi broke away early and never looked back.

The battle for second was a dog-fight with both Rossi and McCoy holding second place several times before the former prevailed. Rossi is now second in the championship standings behind the American Kenny Roberts Jnr (Suzuki), who finished fourth yesterday. In the 250cc class, Japanese pair Shinya Nakano (Yamaha) and Tohru Ukawa (Honda) fought out a tense duel which Nakano won by two seconds.

Nakano's win closed the gap at the top of the championship standings as he now trails the championship leader, France's Olivier Jacque (Yamaha), who finished third in Brno, by only seven points. The Italian Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) won an exciting 125cc race, edging out Japan's Youichi Ui (Derbi) with the Spanish defending champion, Emilio Alzamora (Honda), a close third. Ui, who now has 165 points, saw his championship lead over Locatelli reduced to five points.