Gibernau beats flu for second consecutive win

Sete Gibernau scored his second consecutive win of the season at the French Grand Prix to extend his world championship lead.

Sete Gibernau scored his second consecutive win of the season at the French Grand Prix to extend his world championship lead.

The Spaniard, riding for the factory Honda team, had flu all weekend but took his place on the grid before storming to victory from Yamaha's Carlos Checa. The Italian Max Biaggi took his Honda to third place, while the three-time world champion, Valentino Rossi, was fourth for Yamaha, the second consecutive race he has missed out on a podium.

Neil Hodgson's hopes of his first points of the season ended swiftly, as the Ducati rider fell after two laps and broke two ribs. In a miserable day for the Britons, Jeremy McWilliams was given a ride-through penalty for a jump-start on the Aprilia. McWilliams put in a late rally to move up to 13th place, however, to take his first points of the season.

The Ulsterman's team-mate Shane Byrne was unable to start due to a broken hand suffered two weeks ago at Jerez. Newcastle's Chris Burns retired.

* Regis Laconi rode his Ducati to a double win in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, rising to the top of the World Superbike standings. The Frenchman beat his Ducati team-mates, James Toseland of Britain and Garry McCoy of Australia, in that order in the two races.