American Nicky Hayden won a thrilling battle with fellow countryman Colin Edwards to snatch victory in the Dutch TT at Assen.
Edwards had led for 24 of the 26 laps on the Camel Yamaha when Hayden took the lead on the Repsol Honda.
But Edwards forced his way back into the lead on the final lap and held the advantage going into the last chicane.
Hayden was forced wide into the gravel trap but Edwards saw his dreams of a first MotoGP win dashed when his bike hit the grass and he was thrown off within sight of the finish line.
Hayden managed to keep going to take only his second MotoGP win, with Japan's Shinya Nakano in second for Kawasaki and Hayden's Spanish team-mate Dani Pedrosa in third.
Hayden admitted he did not expect to win the race after being kept at bay by Edwards.
However, he was able to find the pace in the closing laps to get by and was eventually able to keep his machine upright to take the win.
Hayden said: "It was important to win. Everybody was telling me to be careful and just take a few points.
"Colin was so smooth and so fast out there I couldn't get close until I changed something in one section for the last few laps and it worked."
The victory increased Hayden's championship points lead to 42 from Pedrosa who has moved up to second.
Reigning champion Valentino Rossi is fourth on 98 points, 46 off the lead after riding through the pain barrier in Holland.
Rossi was riding with fractured bones in his hand and ankle after crashing during practice on Thursday.
But Rossi fought bravely to finish in eighth despite starting 18th on the grid.
Edwards was able to remount his damaged machine and cross the line in 13th.
British rider James Ellison had risen as high as 12th in the race but crashed on lap four and now stands 18th in the points table.
In the 250cc class victory went to Spain's Jorge Lorenzo on the Fortuna Aprilia.
Italian Andrea Dovizioso leads the championship by 16 points from Lorenzo after finishing third on the Humangest Honda.
British rider Bradley Smith finished the 125cc race one place outside scoring a single championship point in 16th.
Winner was Finland's Mika Kallio on the Red Bull KTM, who is second in the championship on 113 points.
Championship leader Alvaro Bautista has 160 points after finishing the race third on the Master Aspar Aprilia.
