Results 500cc Malaysian GP

Valentino Rossi (Nastro Azzurro Honda) only knows one way to ride a race, for victory. Despite tying up the championship last week in Australia, he was as focused as ever on the win and shook off some strong early race challenges to win comfortably. Early in the race it had looked as if it might be another Phillip Island thriller like, with Gary McCoy (Red Bull Yamaha), Loris Capirossi (West Pons Honda), Kenny Roberts (Telefonica Movistar Suzuki) and Max Biaggi (Marlboro Yamaha) , nose-to-tail in the group with Rossi, but on lap 4 Biaggi went mad. Capirossi was leading at this moment, with McCoy second, Roberts third and Rossi fourth. One of the passing places at Sepang is a tightish lefthander at the back of the track. Rossi saw an opportunity to pass Roberts on the inside going into the corner. He got through on a clean move to slot into third place behind McCoy. Biaggi thought he could pass Roberts as well. In fact there wasn't a hope in hell in him getting cleanly alongside and mid-corner, he sat up, stood on the brakes in a desperate attempt to avoid the inevitable collision. Roberts was well cranked over and Biaggi rammed him at the rear and both riders tumbled into the gravel trap. It really looks as if Rossi's success has been such a psychological shock to Biaggi, that it has affected his racing judgement. With the riders mentally very tired with the third race away from home in as many weekends, it's even more dangerous out on the track as usual.

After the dust settled, McCoy, Rossi and Capirossi continued to slug it out, joined on lap 7 by Norik Abe (Antena 3 D'Antin Yamaha). McCoy was as entertaining as always, with vicious slides as he braked heavily for corners, rear end of the bike flapping around. Ultimately, the wild riding cost him the race, as he was unable to respond to the challenge that Rossi made on lap 12, taking the lead and running away from the battle between McCoy, Abe and Capirossi. Abe was looking strong until he too crashed out on lap 14, remounting and coming home in 13th. for a couple of points. His place was taken by Shiniya Nakano (Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha), riding yet another strong race to justify his anticipated award of " Rookie of the Year" . With Rossi gone, McCoy led the group going for second place, until Capirossi moved ahead on the penultimate lap, leaving McCoy to fight off Nakano in the final rush for the flag. Capirossi could now take second place in the championship if Biaggi again messes up in two week's time in Rio.

Season fatigue may have been the reason for the many crashes that took place during qualification and the race. Jurgen van der Goorbergh (Proton KR3) did not start the race after a heavy fall in qualification left him with severe concussion. Team mate Kurtis Roberts fell on the second lap, and Olivier Jacques, Haru Aoki, Johan Stigfelt, Barry Veneman also didn't make it to the finish. There were just 15 finishers.

Final race Rio 3 November 2001