Italy's Max Biaggi guided his Yamaha to victory in the Czech MotoGP on Sunday.

Starting in pole, the 50th of his career, he finished ahead of Japanese Honda duo Daijiro Kato and Tohru Ukawa.

It was a particularly sweet victory for Biaggi after his crash when leading in the same race last year.

The Honda rider changed the tyre and tried to continue before finally ending his challenge after 20 laps.

Biaggi is within six points of second-placed Ukawa in the overall standings, with the Japanese rider closing Rossi's lead to 80 points.

"It's a great victory, on one of my favourite tracks," said Biaggi, who is leaving Yamaha at the end of the season.

"I'm very satisfied with this win and I have to congratulate my team for the work they have done.

"I'm really motivated, even if I'll leave the team at the end of the year."

Race runner-up Kato, riding a four-stroke Honda for the first time this season, was pleased with his debut performance on the machine.

"It has been tough, but I'm very happy to achieve this result in my first race aboard the RC211V," said Kato.

"I tried to get closer to Biaggi, but I didn't know how the tyres would react. Anyway, I couldn't have asked for more for this race."

McWilliams recovery

Northern Ireland's Jeremy McWilliams did well to take his Proton KR to seventh place.

He had survived what could have been a bad accident during qualifying yesterday just to make it to the start line at Brno.

McWilliams had been in danger of a heavy fall but managed to push his bike back upright with his leg and elbow after both the front and back wheels had started to slide away.

Marco Melandri won the 250cc race for Aprilia to extend his championship lead.

Lucio Cecchinello made it an Italian clean sweep as he won the 125cc race, also on an Aprilia, though San Marino's Manuel Poggiali heads the overall standings after finishing fifth on a Gilera.

Czech MotoGP result:

1. Max Biaggi (Italy) Yamaha 44 minutes 36.498 seconds
2. Daijiro Kato (Japan) Honda 44:39.253
3. Tohru Ukawa (Japan) Honda 44:44.096
4. Sete Gibernau (Spain) Suzuki 44:48.387
5. Carlos Checa (Spain) Yamaha 44:50.527
6. Loris Capirossi (Italy) Honda 44:54.758
7. Jeremy McWilliams (Britain) Proton 45:01.338
8. Norick Abe (Japan) Yamaha 45:03.070
9. Alex Barros (Brazil) Honda 45:05.239
10. Olivier Jacque (France) Yamaha 45:05.654

Leading world championship standings:

1. Rossi 220 points
2. Ukawa 140
3. Biaggi 134
4. Checa 96
5. Barros 94
6. Abe 90
7. Kato 80
8. Capirossi 75
9. Jacques 48
10. Kenny Roberts (US) Suzuki 45