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At the start of race one, Corser took the lead from Biaggi and Melandri, but after a few turns it was clear that the fastest of all was Laverty, who passed his team-mate for third, then on the following lap passed Corser and Biaggi, taking the lead at the first chicane. Biaggi tried to challenge the Irishman, snatching the lead back the next time around, but Laverty left him in the lead only for a few turns, going back on top at Ascari. The leading bunch also comprised Haslam and Melandri. Haslam wasn't able to challenge the aforementioned two and after a mistake on the first chicane on the eighth lap, he lost contact for good. On the eleventh lap, came the turning point of the race: Biaggi was wide on the first chicane and was passed by Haslam and Melandri, leaving Laverty alone towards his maiden win. Max was able to climb back to second on the following lap, while Haslam and Melandri finished behind him.

Race two was marked by two controversial episodes: the first was a contact at the first turn between Checa and Rea. The Honda man fell and his bike took down Haslam and Smrz. Biaggi took the lead at the end of the opening lap, overtaking Corser on the straight, while behind them Haga, Camier and Melandri were fighting for third. Max soon pulled away, followed by Camier, who claimed second on the third lap. A possible double for Aprilia vanished on the eighth lap, when Camier slid off on the second Lesmo turn, leaving second place to Melandri, followed by Haga. The race went on, with Biaggi alone in the lead, while Laverty was steadily climbing up the field (he was eighth after the start): he was third behind Melandri. On the thirteenth lap, the second controversial episode: race direction decided for a ride through for Max Biaggi. Replays showed the Italian taking the escape road, slowing down at the first chicane. That wasn't enough for him to escape punishment: on the Thursday riders' briefing (Biaggi didn't attend), the riders were warned that if they took that escape road, they had to follow a precise route to go back on the track. Biaggi didn't comply and was penalized, like Haga in race one. The seconds lost with the ride through, put him in the middle of the pack and the two Yamahas of Melandri and Laverty took the lead. It was clear that Laverty was faster than Melandri, but he opted to run in Marco's tail, in order to avoid a fightback from the Italian. The decisive move came on the last turn of the last lap: Melandri tried to select a lower gear to have a better speed on exit, but the bike didn't respond like he wanted and Laverty was able to exit Parabolica clearly in the lead, scoring the double.