Motorcycling-Rossi makes it five in a row at Italian Grand Prix

ROME, June 4 (Reuters) Valentino Rossi made it five MotoGP wins in a row at the Italian Grand Prix when he held off the challenge of Loris Capirossi today.

The five-times MotoGP world champion, who failed to finish the last two rounds of competition in China and France, took the lead a lap and a half from the end to win by 0.575 seconds.

The victory was only Italian Rossi's second of the year after he triumphed in Qatar in April. American Nicky Hayden finished third.

The result left Hayden and Italy's Capirossi tied at the top of the championship standings on 99 points from six races. Marco Melandri slipped back to third on 89 points after finishing sixth.

Rossi climbed to fifth overall on 65 points.

REUTERS PG PM1900