MotoGP Rd 2: Gibernau crashes, Barros/Honda win, Rossi extends title lead

Valentino Rossi was not on the pace on the day, but as usual optimised his result and extended the championship lead

Barros rode a superb race and has proven that despite 20 years on the MotoGP circuit, he still has what it takes.

Barros celebrates after the event

The first lap is completed and Sete has already checked out from the bunch. That's Carlos Checa and Maxs Biaggi leading the charge from Valentino Rossi and Marco Melandri, Colin Edwards, John Hopkins, Carlos Checa, Troy Bayliss and Nicky Hayden

Colin Edwards slips off at low speed. Edwards was able to remount and bring home sixth place. That's Shakey Byrne on the KTM-engined Team Roberts Proton in the background.

Rossi lifts the second place trophy. to the applause of Barros and Biaggi

John Hopkins hope of a sixth place finish on the Suzuki is crushed as he slides off in the rain

Tamada didn't make it to the line, damaging his scaphoid in practice and potentially putting himself out for several races

Shinya Nakano continues to run fast and smooth and stay out of trouble and bring home valuable points. He now sits sixth in the title chase just one point behind Sete Gibernau.

Yamaha President Toru Hasegawa visits the Rossi pit after the race.

Hopkins before his crash had many good riders behind him, including Carlos Checa, Troy Bayliss and Shinya Nakano. Had he stayed upright, he might have finished as high as fourth.

By lap eight, Barros was cutting back Gibernau's lead, with the pair running at such a hot pace that Valentino Rossi could not stay with them

Hayden and Bayliss in a high-speed Honda freight train

After two seasons and one race, Alex barros gets to stand on top of the podium again