In Catalunya, Gibernau took his third consecutive pole on Saturday, 0.363 seconds ahead of Rossi. On Sunday, Gibernau started off well and led for much of the race, but couldn't prevent a hard-charging Rossi - whose Yamaha had less tyre and grip problems than Gibernau's Honda - from taking first place with two laps to go to win the race with a narrow 0.159 second margin. Rossi's win meant that he had reduced his gap with Gibernau to only five points in the standings.