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For the first time since 1995, the 500 Grand Prix came to back Le Mans. In practice, much of which was run in the rain, Max Biaggi (Yamaha) took pole position, just beating his team mate Carlos Checa (Yamaha) in the final seconds of qualifying. Over the practice sessions most of the leaders fell or slide off at one time or another.
Alex Barros (Honda)qualified third. Kerry Roberts (Suzuki) filled out the fourth position on the front row, he had fallen on his \"fast lap\" on a wet track. Second row leader is Alex Criville (Honda) with Jeremy McWilliams (Aprilia), Norick Abe (Yamaha) and Garry McCoy (Yamaha).
At the green light Biaggi takes the Holeshot from Roberts and Abe.
Biaggi is in front when he loses the back end, then the front and crashes out of the race, Roberts inherits the lead. Those following are Checa, with Criville , Abe and Rossi.
At the half way mark Criville is chasing hard to catch Roberts, he is closely followed by Abe and Rossi. By lap 20 Roberts is having tyre trouble and Criville takes the lead , followed by Abe.
Abe presses Criville hard and makes a pass taking the lead. Rossi passes Roberts pushing him back to fourth.
Criville climbs all over the back of Abe and with Rossi a close third. Barros and McCoy also pass Roberts.
The final lap sees Criville take the lead back under brakes from Abe. Abe fights back, but there is not enough time or track left.
Criville getting his first win of the season and the first win of the season for Honda as well.
Finishing order Criville, Abe, Rossi, McCoy, Barros, Roberts and Checa.
1. Ken Roberts - 90 - USA - Suzuki
2. Carlos Checa - 80 - Spain - Yamaha
3. Garry McCoy - 61 - Australia - Yamaha
4. Alex Criville - 59 - Spain - Honda
5. Norick Abe - 54 - Japan -Yamaha
6. Alex Barros - 52 - Brazil - Honda
7. Nobuatsu Aoki - 46 - Japan - Suzuki
8. Loris Capirossi - 38 - Italy - Honda
9. Valentino Rossi - 37 - Italy - Honda
10. Tadayuki Okada - 34 - Japan - Honda
LR
