Welkom, South Africa - Australian Garry McCoy withstood a furious final onslaught from Carlos Checa of Spain to register his first 500cc world championship success by winning the South African Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Yamaha rider started the season-opener only ninth on the grid but snatched the lead from Checa with five of the 28 laps to go.
McCoy then held off a strong late challenge from Checa, also on a Yamaha, to beat him by just 0.37 of a second.
Italian Loris Capirossi was a close third on his Honda.
Max Biaggi of Italy, winner in South Africa last year, and fastest qualifer Sete Gibernau of Spain, retired on the opening laps. - Reuters