Daijiro Katoh won the Japanese 250cc Grand Prix at Suzuka by 18.763 seconds over Tetsuya Harada. Roberto Locatelli finished third.

Katja Poensgen finished 22nd, one lap down, and was the last rider still running at the finish.

Results follow:

1. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 41:03.596
2. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, -18.763 seconds
3. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, -18.835
4. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, -23.135
5. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, -24.423
6. MArco Melandri, Aprilia, -26.595
7. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, -31.142
8. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, -43.953
9. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, -45.887
10. Taro Sekiguchi, Yamaha, -48.496
11. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, -53.583
12. Alex Hofman, Aprilia, -1:05.172
13. Hiroshi Aoyamo, Honda, -1:05.267
14. Klaus Nohles, Aprilia, -1:17.422
15. Sylvain Guintoli, Aprilia, 1:18.183
22. Katja Poensgen, Aprilia, – 1 lap.

Crashers included Julien Allemand, Emilio Alzamora, Alex Debon, David De Gea and Shahrol Yuzy.