MotoGP: Rossi Secures Title With 3rd In Sepang

3 weeks ago 25th Oct 11:45

Valentino Rossi secures world MotoGP crown finishing third in the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.

Valentino Rossi took his seventh world MotoGP crown despite finishing third in the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.

Rossi, 30, had started in pole needing to register a top-four finish, to secure his crown the only other rider that could catch him being Yahama team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Casey Stoner won the race on his Ducati, his second in succession ahead of Dani Pedrosa (Honda), with Lorenzo coming home in fourth.

The final race of the championship is in Valencia in two weeks.

Rossi, who started with 286 points ahead of Lorenzo (245) and Stoner (220), told the press "It was a difficult year. This race reflected how the season went - very tough, with some mistakes, some disappointing results."

"But I won six races, I was consistent and it's another world championship. I thank all the team and everyone who's helped me."

Spain's Lorenzo trailed Rossi by 38 points ahead of the championship's penultimate race and was forced to start from the back of the grid after being penalised for not taking his starting position on time.

With torrential rain delaying the start the race finally got under way 35-minute late and Rossi immediately slipped back to fifth on the opening bend with Pedrosa taking full advantage through the puddles.

At the end of the first lap Rossi found himself in 11th spot and the Italian needed all his skill and nerve to claw his way up through the field.

Despite the drying conditions during the 21-lap race, the track remained slippery claiming Frenchman Randy de Puniet who slid off early on and Andrea Dovizioso who lost control on lap 14 while pushing for second place.

With 14 laps remaining Rossi moved up into fourth spot and cruised to the finish line behind Stoner and Pedrosa amidst wild celebrations trackside which involved a chicken being held up dressed in the Italian's blue and yellow colours.

It is Rossi's fourth title for Yamaha and seventh premier class world title overall.

Nicky Hayden equalled his second-best result of the season with a fifth-place finish on Sunday, ahead of Chris Vermeulen, Toni Elías, Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi.

Malaysian MotoGP result:
1 Casey Stoner Ducati 47min 24.834secs
2 Dani Pedrosa Honda 47:39.500
3 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 47:44.219
4 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 47:50.684
5 Nicky Hayden Ducati 48:03.539

Championship standings:
1 Rossi 286 points
2 Lorenzo 245
3 Stoner 220
4 Pedrosa 209
5 Dovizioso 152