LOSAIL, Qatar (AFP) - Spain's Sete Gibernau won a dramatic Qatar Grand Prix to throw the world title race wide open after defending world champion Valentino Rossi crashed out.
His teammate Colin Edwards of the United States took second, 1.3sec behind, while Ruben Xaus, on a Ducati, claimed third place.
Honda rider Gibernau's win meant he narrowed Rossi's championship lead to just 14 points with three races left this season.
"It was a very difficult weekend," said Gibernau after clinching his fourth win of the season.
"The team as well as Michelin with the tyres all did a great job and I really enjoyed the bike again."
Rossi endured a miserable first ever race at this desert track after he and bitter Italian rival Max Biaggi were both demoted to the back of the starting grid.
Rossi was penalised six seconds after his Yamaha team were caught trying to lay down rubber on his eighth place on the grid in an effort to improve grip while Biaggi's Honda team were punished for 'washing' his starting spot.
But Rossi shrugged off the disappointment as he stormed through the field and made it up to fourth place by the end of the fourth lap of the 22-lap race, finding time to apologise to Alex Barros after he inadvertently bumped into the Brazilian.
But he eventually paid a heavy price for his constant attacking when he lost control of his machine on the slippery, brand new track and spectacularly crashed out on lap seven.
Gibernau, who took the lead from pole sitter Carlos Checa at the end of the first lap, extended his advantage over the first half of the race before teammate Edwards began to narrow the gap.
However, the American was unable to find the extra pace to get past his teammate and settled for second spot.
"I had a terrible start and Valentino, who started at the back, even got past me by the first turn," said Edwards.
"The first four laps were bad and Sete got away. But the team has scored maximum points and that's the important thing."
The next round of the championship takes place in Malaysia next Sunday.