Capirossi homes in on Italian GP500 win.

Loris Capirossi became the first Italian to win a 500cc Grand Prix at Mugello, but had to survive a frantic last couple of laps to do so.

The Pons Honda rider make a break at the start, having despatched early leader Kenny Roberts Jr, but was powerless to defend as his two-second advantage was eaten into by crowd favourites Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi. Rossi had been at the front of the chasing pack almost throughout, but Biaggi, having slipped back at the start, had had to fight his way through from seventh on lap one before tagging onto the lead battle.

From half-distance the trio pulled away from the rest of the field, sending the crowd into rapture as the long-awaited home winner looked more and more likely. Biaggi opted to play the waiting game, as Rossi challenged the leader on more than one occasion heading into the first corner. Even then, however, he only found a way through as Capirossi ran wide on exit, and the two continued to joust right through to the penultimate tour.

The lead changed hands three times before it was finally settled in Capirossi's favour, and it was a mistake from his young counterpart that removed him from contention. Having taken what seemed a decisive advantage on lap 22, youthful enthusiasm saw the front wheel slide away, pitching Rossi into the gravel in front of his fan club.

Biaggi now made his move and, despite two hairy rides over the kerbs, the Yamaha man hit the front at the start of the final lap. Capirossi fought back, retaking the lead halfway around, and then it was Biaggi's turn to hit the dirt. Running hard at the top of the hill, he left his braking a fraction too late, clipping the back of the black-and-white Honda before sliding off. Now Capirossi really was home free. His rivals both recovered sufficiently to take points but ninth (Biaggi) and twelfth were poor reward for valiant efforts.

Almost forgotten in the shadow of the scrap for the lead, Carlos Checa was the grateful inheritor of second place. The second Marlboro Yamaha had run quickly in the early stages, before eventually dropping back to what seemed a safe fourth place. Title rival Roberts slumped to an eventual sixth having led the opening tour, leaving the unlikely duo of Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki to fill third and fourth places for Aprilia and Suzuki respectively. Norick Abe was fifth for the d'Antin Yamaha squad.

Reigning world champion Alex Criville suffered his third accident in two days as he slid out of ninth before half distance, while the other Repsol bikes of Tady Okada and Sete Gibernau could do no better than eighth and tenth.

Further reports and full results will follow shortly....

Leading finishers - Italian 500cc GP.

1. Loris Capirossi Honda
2. Carlos Checa Yamaha
3. Jeremy McWilliams Aprilia

4. Nobuatsu Aoki Suzuki
5. Norick Abe Yamaha
6. Kenny Roberts Jr Suzuki
7. Regis Laconi Yamaha
8. Tadayuki Okada Honda
9. Max Biaggi Yamaha
10. Sete Gibernau Honda
11. Jurgen van der Goorbergh Honda
12. Valentino Rossi Honda
13. Jose Luis Cardoso Honda
14. Sebastien Legrelle Honda