Five-time champion Rossi had quali"ed a lowly 11th on the grid prior to this yesterday's race.

But the 28-year-old powered his way through the field to overhaul the Australian race leader in the contest's closing stages.

The Italian made the decisive passing manoeuvre with little more than three laps remaining.

Stoner, riding the Ducati Marlboro GP7 machine, could produce no response and Rossi pulled clear to take the chequered flag 1.909 seconds clear of Stoner, with defending champion Nicky Hayden third, his best result of the season to date. Rossi lies second in the overall standings, but has cut Stoner's advantage by five points to 21.