Valentino Rossi made it five MotoGP wins in a row at the Italian Grand Prix when he held off the challenge of Loris Capirossi.
The five-times MotoGP champion, who failed to finish the last two rounds of competition in China and France, took the lead a lap and a half from the end to win by 0.575 seconds on the twisting circuit at Mugello in the hills north of Florence.
The victory was only Italian Rossi's second of the year after he triumphed in Qatar in April.
American Nicky Hayden finished third.
The result left Hayden and Italy's Capirossi level on 99 points at the top of the championship standings after six races.
Marco Melandri slipped back to third on 89 points after finishing sixth.
Yamaha rider Rossi, meanwhile, relaunched the defence of his title, climbing to fifth overall on 65 points.
"It was a huge battle with Capirossi. In the end I think we were both winners," Rossi said.
"I had some problems with the back of the bike, but I managed to handle them. This was an unforgettable race."
