MUGELLO, Italy, 6 June 2005 — Valentino Rossi tightened his grip on the MotoGP world championship after leading an Italian sweep of the top four spots in the Italian Grand Prix yesterday.
The champion recorded his fourth win in five races this season with a controlled ride on his Yamaha, finishing ahead of Honda’s Max Biaggi.
Spain’s Sete Gibernau, runner-up to Rossi last year, started second on the grid but crashed out after five laps.
“It’s a great result. I think we used our home advantage 100 percent,” Rossi said after winning at Mugello for the fourth successive year.
“It has been a while since we’ve had three Italians on the podium and this is the best place to do it.”
Loris Capirossi gave Ducati their first podium finish of the year by overtaking Honda’s Marco Melandri on the last lap.
The result ensured Italian riders claimed the top four positions in a premier class event for the first time since the Nations Grand Prix at Monza in 1968.
Rossi extended his lead over second-placed Melandri to 49 points after taking his total to 120.
Biaggi’s second place lifted him to third on 67 points.
Rossi’s only weakness appeared to be his start. He pulled away slowly from pole position and dropped back to fifth at the first corner.
But he regained the lead before the end of the first lap after slicing through the field.
Gibernau struggled to keep up with the early pace, slipping back to fifth before sliding off.
With six of the 23 laps remaining, Biaggi dived inside Rossi on the fast, downhill Casanova bend.
Three laps later Rossi pulled off an identical move to regain the lead and held on to win.
