Marco Melandri (Yamaha Word Superbike) took his third win of the year to lead his championship rivals Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) across the line in race one. The top three were covered by only 0.436 seconds after 20 hot laps.

At one stage Michel Fabrizio (Suzuki Alstare) looked capable of catching the leading trio, but he slowed to take a safe and yet still impressive fourth. Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike) went from the front row to fifth. The man most on the move in the race was Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike) as he passed several riders to get up to sixth. Biaggi's team-mate Leon Camier took seventh, with Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) eighth.