The Australian Motogp weekend was great with lots of fun, excitement and drama both on and off the track.

The weather also came to the party, with blue skies, the only rain fell during Friday morning and quickly cleared up, although the wind was cold the whole weekend. Phillip Island is well worth the 90 minute trip from Melbourne, even if you're not there for the bike racing. The Penguin parade or Seal Rock cruise to look at the seals are always popular along with the Koala park and the beautiful beaches. Friday and Saturday nights are Street Party nights with live music and Stars of MotoGP on stage in the main street of Cowes. Plenty of restaurants and snack bars stay open later with street food vans also a popular choice. If you don't like the busy nightlife, Silverleaves Gourmet General Store in Sanders Rd,is a great place to relax with friends for a meal or for morning tea.

Friday
Friday practice sessions were crash filled with several top riders out for the weekend. Loris Capirossi looked like he was off to a great start for the Australian round clocking the fastest lap time early on. Unfortunately, Capirossi went off on turn 1 in the 1st practice session and was out for the rest of the weekend. Initially he slid on the grass but when he hit the kitty litter cartwheeled a few times, the bike went in the opposite direction and sustained a lot of damage in the crash. Capirossi was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital and has severe internal bruising with fluid and blood around his lungs. He'll remain in Australia for a few days and will sit out the last races of the year. Kenny Roberts was also out for the weekend with a fractured wrist from a crash also in the first practice session.

Saturday
Carlos Checa hit the history books on his birthday, being the first MotoGP rider to break the 1.30 mark at the Island. Valentino Rossi looked set to do the same but pulled into pit lane on his fastest lap while Nicky Hayden took pole with a smokin' 1.29.337 and grabbing his third pole position for the year.

Sunday
Max Biaggi hit his stride with a great practice session on Sunday morning along with his team mate Nicky Hayden. Unfortunately Max’s rear wheel appeared to lock up on the first lap of the race and he went off on Honda corner. Alex Barros crashed spectacularly on Lap 24,luckily he wasn't seriously hurt after hitting the edge of the gravel and flipping into the air but will likely miss the next round in Turkey. Valentino Rossi pulled away from Nicky Hayden on Lap 22 leaving Nicky and Carlos Checa to fight for second place in his wake with
Marco Melandri and Sete Gibernau also in the podium chase.

Valentino Rossi won the Australian Motogp race making it his eleventh win of the year.Nicky Hayden took second place with Carlos Checa snatching the final spot from Marco Melandri.

2005 Polini Australian Motogp Race placings:

1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha
2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda
3. Carlos Checa (ESP) Ducati
4. Marco Melandri (ITA) Honda
5. Sete Gibernau (ESP) Honda

2005 Motogp World Championship placings:

1 Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 331
2 Marco Melandri (ITA) Telefonica Movistar Honda 170
3 Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda 170
4 Colin Edwards (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 161
5 Max Biaggi (ITA) Repsol Honda 159
6 Loris Capirossi (ITA) Marlboro Ducati 148
7 Sete Gibernau (ESP) Telefonica Movistar Honda 137
8 Alex Barros (BRA) Camel Honda Team 129
9 Carlos Checa (ESP) Marlboro Ducati 114
10 Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing 86