In what was one of this year's best races, Valentino Rossi once again stamped his authority on the MotoGP championship to claw back lost ground to young Aussie Casey Stoner. Stoner, riding the Ducati, came in a credible fourth to still hold a slender nine-point lead in the championship. In winning, Rossi maintained his total dominance at the Mugello track in Italy,  the Yamaha M1 rider recording his sixth win.

It was an exciting race, with the lead changing many times during the early part. It saw Loris Capirossi and Stoner (Ducati) battling it out, with Spanish wonder kid Dani Pedrosa (Honda) dicing for the lead. Unfortunately, Capirossi could not maintain the pace and slipped away to be seventh after this great tussle.

Then 'The Doctor' (Rossi) stormed into the lead on lap 15 to the cheers of the estimated 85,000 home crowd and was able to hold off challengers to score an emphatic win. He beat home Pedrosa, with MotoGP veteran Alex Barros of Brazil scoring a well-deserved third.

It was an exciting tussle between veteran Barros and young ace Stoner in the closing stages, but the wily Brazilian was able to counter the pressure placed on him to keep Stoner in fourth. Rizla Suzuki rider John Hopkins again showed his talents by finishing a solid fifth in what is looking to be a strong year for the Suzuki factory team.

Chris Vermeulen scored more points in this race, again showing his class by coming in eighth in front of more fancied opponents such as Marco Melandri, who was ninth, and 2006 champion Nick Hayden who finisbhed 10th. That, surely, will be the end of his championship defence.

The top five finishers: 1. Valentino Rossi; 2. Dani Pedrosa; 3. Alex Barros; 4. Casey Stoner; 5. John Hopkins.