 |
|
The indomitable and irrepressible Valentino
Rossi (top and middle) took his ninth World
Championship crown in Malaysia today, riding
to third place in a dramatic rain-hit race
at Sepang. His Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge
Lorenzo (bottom) 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. |
|
|
|
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
"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 tyres 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 tyres 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!"
Jorg Lorenzo
"I want to start
by giving my congratulations to Valentino and all his team.
He is the champion. As for the race, today was a difficult
day. We improved in the warm-up and I was hoping to have a
good race, but when it started to rain we had problems to
turn on the bike. We had planned to ride two laps, but I
didn't have enough time and the pit-lane was closed. Then
had to begin from last position, but I did one of my best
ever starts! The first corner was incredible, but as time
went on I began to have some grip problems, like during the
whole weekend. However it was a great race for me in
difficult circumstances and we finished fourth, not so bad.
It's been a great season and I could never have expected to
be fighting with Valentino like this so early in my career.
Now I just need one point in Valencia and I will have my
goal of being the vice-champion."
David Brivio
- Team Manager, Rossi
"Every year is
special but this year was very interesting because we
realised 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."
Daniele
Romagnoli - Team Manager, Lorenzo
"Congratulations
to Valentino for his ninth title! We've given everything we
have this year to make his life difficult on track but now
he has won and he deserves this victory. This year has been
great for Jorge and today he did a brilliant race from last
on the grid. Unfortunately we had trouble with the race bike
and had to change to the back-up one, and then Jorge wasn't
in time to exit the pit lane after his second sighting lap.
It was a pity but he put on an exciting show and did so well
to finish fourth. Now we will focus on confirming the second
place in Valencia and then look forward to next year, when I
am sure Jorge will be even stronger."
|
