Rossi snatched a dramatic late win

Marco Melandri, another Italian, came home in third place.

Rossi and Gibernau dominated the race, leading the field by five seconds with six laps remaining, with Alex Barros their only challenger until he crashed.

The result leaves Rossi and Gibernau tied in first place in the standings, 33 points clear of Max Biaggi.

Gibernau was unhappy with the move Rossi used to take the lead, which forced the Spaniard to run into the back of his rival.

Gibernau lost vital time in that clash and was not able to challenge on the remainder of the lap but Rossi insists he did not deliberately block the Telefonica Movistar Honda rider.

"I came into the bend a little too quickly and I slightly lost control of the front of my Yamaha, which explains why I touched him, but it wasn't intentional," he said.

Gibernau did not use the incident as an excuse for his defeat.

"To be overtaken in the final meters after dominating the race, it's obviously gutting," said the Spaniard.

"I was angry about the way he overtook me. His manoeuvre really was risky. He said he didn't do it on purpose, but it doesn't take away my disappointment."

Assen GP Race result:

1 V Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 38:11.831
2 S Gibernau (Sp) Honda 38:12.287
3 Marco Melandri (Ita) Yamaha 38:21.740
4 Max Biaggi (Ita) Honda 38:22.014
5 Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 38:22.131
6 Colin Edwards (US) Honda 38:22.632
7 Ruben Xaus (Spain) Ducati 38:25.536
8 Loris Capirossi (Ita) Ducati 38:25.922
9 Carlos Checa (Sp) Yamaha 38:26.990
10 Neil Hodgson (GB) Ducati 38:45.897

Selected others:

15 Jeremy McWilliams (GB) Aprilia 39:16.592
17 Chris Burns (GB) Harris 40:12.300

Did not finish: