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► 2009 Motorcycle Racing News

James Toseland.  Photos and text courtesy BMW Motorrad, Ducati Corse, Honda Racing,
Suzuki Racing, Yamaha Racing.  Edited by webBikeWorld.

Rossi Takes His 9th World Championship at Sepang

The indomitable and irrepressible Valentino Rossi took his ninth World Championship crown in Malaysia today, riding to third place in a dramatic rain-hit race at Sepang.

It was the Italian's seventh title in the premier class, his fourth for Yamaha - more than he has won with any other manufacturer - and his 163rd career podium.  His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo was forced to start from the back of the grid after a sighting lap problem but he recovered brilliantly and rode a superb race to chase Rossi home in fourth place.

After three dry practice sessions the heavens opened thirty minutes before the race started and a torrential downpour ensued.  The race was delayed forty-five minutes, by which time the rain had abated to a steady drizzle, but with no wet track time during practice the race had become something of a lottery. Rossi seemed to get away well but at turn one he ran wide and exited in eighth position.

He then surrendered two more places, including one to his charging team-mate, and finished the first lap in tenth.  For the next few laps he tailed Lorenzo as the Spaniard charged his way through the field, the pair putting on a scintillating display of overtaking in the wet until they arrived in fourth and fifth on the seventh lap.

Rossi now set his sights on a podium and passed Lorenzo, surviving a huge slide in the process, before quickly pulling a gap of a second on his team-mate. He slowly began to close the gap to Andrea Dovizioso in third and looked like he would soon be within striking distance when his fellow Italian slid out, leaving Rossi in the final podium spot.

He didn't give up there however and started to reel in Dani Pedrosa, who was second, but with the track by then almost dry and the championship in the bag he decided in the final few laps to take the safe option and came home behind the Spaniard, with Casey Stoner the clear winner out in front.

Lorenzo's troubles began when a problem with his race bike meant he had to switch to his spare at the last minute, meaning he left the pit lane a little late.  He planned to do two sighting laps, as Rossi had, to get a better feel for the wet track but by the time he came through for the second one the pit lane had closed, meaning he then had to start from the back of the grid.

The 22-year-old surged through the field at the start however and rode one of the races of his life to pass twelve riders and come home fourth behind Rossi.  Lorenzo will clinch second place in the championship by taking just one point at the final round in Valencia, in two week's time.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 3rd Time: +19.385:  "It's great to be World Champion again, I am very proud to have done this nine times in my career.

I want to thank everyone in my team, Furusawa-san, Davide Brivio, Lin Jarvis, Jeremy...everybody!  This season has been very hard and Lorenzo especially has pushed me to new limits, but I think it's been a great duel for everyone to watch.

Today was unbelievable, when the rain came it was scary for everyone because all the work we'd done was then useless and we were riding 'blind' with the setting.

I made a mistake at the first corner and then I was a long way back, so I think I did a great race to finish third! I was going to try to pass Dovizioso when he fell and then for a few laps I thought I would try to get Pedrosa but with wet tires on a drying track it was a bit risky by then and so I decided to be safe.

It's a fantastic feeling to take this title with Yamaha again and I also must thank Bridgestone, who have done a great job with the tires all year.  My celebration was because in Italy we say an old chicken makes good soup but can no longer lay eggs!  I am like the old chicken - 30 years now - but I have made another egg!  That's nine!"

Davide Brivio - Team Manager:  "Every year is special but this year was very interesting because we realized from the start of the season that our strongest rival was in our garage!  It hasn't been easy but it's been a fascinating season for everyone and we are very proud at Yamaha. 

We have to give huge congratulations to Valentino because this year we've seen him work harder than ever, and when the level goes up he puts even more effort in and this means that we, too, have all had to work even harder to keep up with him!

Working with Valentino is always great fun and we are very lucky in our team.  Today he showed his talent once again after a bad start to come home on the podium and we are so happy that all our work has paid off.  Congratulations to Valentino and thank you to everyone in the team, at Yamaha and at Bridgestone for a fantastic job."

Rossi on Pole for Sepang

October 24, 2009 - Valentino Rossi smashed the pole record at Sepang this afternoon to take his sixth pole position of the season ahead of tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix, the Italian's first championship 'match point.'

Jorge Lorenzo recovered from a difficult session to put in some good laps at the end and qualify second, making it the 12th time this year that the Fiat Yamaha Pair have shared the front row.

Temperatures during qualifying reached a sweltering 34 degrees at the tropical track but nothing hampered Rossi today and the 30-year-old was flying throughout, as he continued to work closely with his Yamaha and Bridgestone engineers in order to maximize tire performance ahead of tomorrow's 21-lap race.

The championship leader topped the timesheets early on, making way for Casey Stoner during the middle part of the hour but taking the lead again with 25-minutes to go and never looking in danger of being beaten.

He continued to improve his time before a stunning last flying lap saw him beat his own pole position record, which has stood since 2006.  Rossi can clinch his ninth World Championship title tomorrow simply by finishing fourth or better, regardless of where his team-mate finishes.

Lorenzo had looked in brilliant form yesterday but the youngster struggled more today, failing to make another step with his setting and losing some ground to his rivals.

He could only manage fourth this morning and spent much of this afternoon's session uncharacteristically out of the top four.  With the softer Bridgestone tires at the end he was able to set some decent hot laps and his final effort, 0.569 off Rossi, was good enough for second, but he and his team will be working hard overnight and in tomorrow's warm-up in order to improve their race pace.

Valentino Rossi - Position: 1st Time: 2'00.518 Laps: 21:  "I am so happy about that final lap!  I couldn't believe it when I saw it on my dashboard, I thought it was possible to go faster but not by that much!

My team and I have worked very well here and we've had a good strategy with Bridgestone, which left us with plenty of time at the end to try for the pole.  It's very important to be on the front row here so we have done our job well, plus I am confident about our setting and our race pace.

We're in good shape.  It's incredibly hot and tomorrow will be hard for everyone, as it always is here, but we have a good advantage and I am really looking forward to the battle.  Let's see where we are at this time tomorrow!"

Circuit Name: Sepang
Circuit Length: 5548 m
Opened 1999
MotoGP Lap Record: 2' 2.993 (Nicky Hayden, 2005)
MotoGP Fastest Lap Ever: 2' 0.518 (Valentino Rossi, 2009)

More:  2009 MotoGP Racing Schedule  |  2009 World Superbike Racing Schedule  |  wBW Motorcycle Racing Page (News and More Schedules)

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