BARCELONA, 13 June 2005 — World champion Valentino Rossi crushed Sete Gibernau’s hopes of a first win this season by snatching the lead and victory from the Spaniard three laps from the finish of the Catalan Grand Prix yesterday.
It was a fourth successive win for the Italian, his fifth in six races this season and an incredible 47th in 86 grands prix in the top class of motorcycling.
The Yamaha rider extended his lead at the top of the championship standings to 58 points over compatriot Marco Melandri, who finished third behind his Honda team mate Gibernau.
Brazilian Alex Barros, the only man apart from Rossi to have won a race this season, was fourth with American Nicky Hayden fifth and Italian Max Biaggi sixth as Honda riders dominated all but the most important position in the race.
