Jeremy McWiliams fell off during the first lap in Welkom

Ulsterman Jeremy McWilliams saw his race end on the first lap of Sunday's South African MotoGP race.

His Proton KR machine was forced off the track when American Colin Edwards crashed his Felice Aprilia.

Spaniard Sete Gibernau won the race a week after Telefonica Movistar Honda team-mate Daijiro Kato died after failing to recover from a crash at the Japanese GP at Suzuka.

Gibernau, who last won a race in 2001, had started the race from pole position but had to pass faster starter Troy Bayliss on the Ducati Marlboro.

Gibernau then had to hold off a late charge from the Repsol Honda of defending champion Valentino Rossi who was looking for his second race win of the season.

The next race of the 2003 season, will be held in Jerez in Spain on 11 May.