Race Results
2008 World Champion Valentino Rossi rode an inch-perfect race in energy-sapping conditions at Sepang today to take his ninth win of the season and his 150th career podium.

He is only the second rider in the history of the sport to pass this milestone, the other being Giacomo Agostini, whose all-time win record Rossi has already broken this season.

Rossi's Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo meanwhile had a disappointing day, with his challenge ending in the gravel trap on lap 12.

With temperatures in excess of 40 degrees as the riders lined up on the grid, today's race was clearly going to be a test of endurance, both for riders and tires.

Rossi, starting from second, crossed the line for the first time in third but was able to pass Andrea Dovizioso on the next lap, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process, and set off on the heels of Dani Pedrosa.  The pair gradually began to open out clear air from the chasing pack but the gap between them remained at just a few tenths of a second for next eight laps.

Rossi eventually made his move at mid-race distance, was able to pass Pedrosa on the brakes into the hairpin at turn nine and was then unchallenged to the checkered flag, crossing the line 4.008 seconds ahead of the Spaniard with Dovizioso in third.

The paddock now heads straight to Valencia in Spain for the 18th and final round of the season, with Rossi looking to avenge two bad years at the track and Lorenzo determined to secure the title of Leading Rookie with a positive performance to make up for today's disappointment.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 1st, Time: 43'06.007:  "I am so happy with this win today because all of the toughest championship of my career, including with Yamaha in 2004, have been won with nine victories.  Of course that doesn't mean I don't want to win again next week, but for now I like this number!

Today was incredibly hard because it was so hot.  Once I got behind Dani I tried to pass many times but he was very fast and very consistent and I had a good battle to get by him.  Lap-by-lap I understood better where it was possible and eventually I could make my move and go away from him.

 Everything worked very well today in such conditions, my M1 and my Bridgestone tires and I want to thank everyone for making me so fast all weekend.  I love winning here because it's such a great track but today was really a test, especially the last five laps when I really had to make an effort to keep my concentration in such incredible heat.

Anyway, it was important to win here because when we came here in the winter I did a very fast race simulation and I promised my new Bridgestone tire technician, Peter, that we would win the race!  I took a gamble in February so I had to win today!  Finally I want to congratulate my friend Marco Simoncelli for winning the 250cc World Championship today.  I know how hard he has worked to get here and he really deserves it - I am very happy for him."

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