BARCELONA, 16 June 2003 — Loris Capirossi held off a thrilling fightback from world champion Valentino Rossi to win yesterday’s Catalan Grand Prix and claim a first MotoGP victory for the new Ducati team.
Honda rider Rossi, the world championship leader, was in his usual commanding form at the start of the race but lost the lead to Capirossi on lap 15.
The world champion got too close to his fellow Italian in trying to take back the lead on the next lap and ran off the track into the gravel, losing more than eight seconds.
Rossi produced a furious ride from down the field, bringing the crowd to their feet as he slalomed in and out of rival riders to move back up to second but Capirossi was able to hold on for victory.
Spanish Honda rider Sete Gibernau came in third after Italy’s Max Biaggi had spun out on his Honda.
Rossi’s second place was enough to extend his lead in the world championship to 47 points after six grands prix, with Gibernau his closest rival and Biaggi three points further back.
While Rossi provided the most compelling drama, the day belonged to Ducati, who are competing at the highest grand prix level for the first time since 1972.
For an ecstatic Capirossi, it was a first victory since Italy in 2000.
Rossi went into the race with three wins from five races and Catalunya looked like providing a fourth.
Capirossi took the lead going into the first corner but Rossi had reclaimed it by the end of the first lap. He ran comfortably until a brief lapse in concentration allowed Capirossi into the lead and he lost the race on the next lap as he just managed to stop himself from touching bikes with his Italian rival only to run off the track.
Spain’s Daniel Pedrosa edged out Swiss rider Thomas Luthi to win the 125cc race, with Alex De Angelis in third, while Frenchman Randy de Puniet took the 250cc category ahead of Spain’s Fonsi Nieto and Anthony West of Australia.
