It was won by double - champion Loris Capirossi both on the rostrum for the first time .
Double - champion Loris Capirossi stamped his authority in the closing laps to draw narrowly away from the pair of Japanese riders Kazuto Sakata and Nobuyuki Wakai .
It was won by double - champion Loris Capirossi , who stamped his authority in the closing laps to draw narrowly away from the pair of Japanese riders Kazuto Sakata and Nobuyuki Wakai , both on the rostrum for the first time .