Biaggi profits from Rossi's misfortune

Max Biaggi made up for his crash in the Czech Republic last year by winning the latest round of the MotoGP series in Brno yesterday.

Biaggi, who was leading last year's race before his demise, rode the Marlboro Yamaha to victory as his bitter rival and reigning world champion Valentino Rossi, became an eraly victim of a rear wheel problem on his Repsol Honda.

Rossi had looked capable of winning but it was Biaggi that finished ahead of the Japanese riders Daijiro Kato, on the Gresini Honda, and Rossi's team-mate Tohru Ukawa.

The Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams had one of his best results of the season as he took the Proton KR to seventh place. McWilliams shrugged off a nerve-racking moment during qualifying. He had been in danger of a heavy fall but used his leg and his elbow to push his machine back upright after both wheels had started to slide away.

Victory put Biaggi within six points of second-placed Ukawa in the championship standings as Rossi saw his championship lead over the Japanese rider cut to 80 points.

The London-based Italian, Marco Melandri, won the 250cc race for Aprilia. Jason Vincent forced his way into a points-scoring position in 12th but his Cibertel Honda team-mate, Leon Haslam, could only manage 17th. Lucio Cecchinello made it an Italian clean sweep as he won the 125cc race on an Aprilia.