Rossi Wins MotoGP Title

With the victory Rossi becomes just the second rider in history to recapture the title after two years, the other being Giacomo Agostini. This is Rossis third title with Yamaha, his sixth in the premier class and eighth in total in a career spanning 12 years.

Rossi struggled early on at the Motegi track and was sitting in fifth after the first lap. He passed teammate Jorge Lorenzo and Repsol Hondas Nicky Hayden on the next lap before catching up to Stoner and Repsol Hondas Dani Pedrosa. The trio were within a few tenths of a second of each other through the next four laps. On lap six both Rossi and Stoner got past Pedrosa and the race for first was on.

Its a great victory and a great achievement; I think its at the same level as the first title in 2004 with Yamaha, maybe even better, says Rossi. This championship has been very long and hard and all of the team and all of Yamaha have worked very well, never giving up for one moment. We have been able to put a great bike onto the track in all conditions and at all circuits, and this has allowed me to ride like this and to win so many races. I am very happy. The race was a great battle and I had to ride at 100%, like I have all through the season. Pedrosa and Stoner today were very strong and it was fun to fight with them like this.

Rossi says this was the hardest hes ever had to work to win a world championship. Taking the title with a victory after a couple years of coming up short also means a lot to him.

We have lost for two years and I dont think I was the favorite this season, but we have shown that we are a great team and that we never give up.

Simply amazing! Every time he surprises us, says team manager Davide Brivio. Weve already been working together for five years and what he can deliver on the track is always unbelievable. This year is another demonstration of how strong Valentino is, especially to come back to this level of performance after two very hard years.

Rossis victory, along with Lorenzos fourth place finish, also secured the triple crown of rider, manufacturer and team titles for Yamaha and the Fiat Yamaha team.

Congratulations to Valentino, to all the team and Yamaha engineers, and thank you to Bridgestone, Fiat and all of our sponsors and partners, says Brivio. Congratulations also to Jorges team and to Tech 3, they have all played a big part in winning the Triple Crown.

Stoner came into the race as the only rider within striking range of Rossi, but he says fatigue got the better of him at Motegi.

Unfortunately in the second half of the race I started to get tired in the changes of direction and I was having to close the gap coming out of the corners to get into the next one - simply because I didn't have the strength to flick the bike over with the throttle open, says Stoner. The lap times dropped off and when Valentino came past I couldn't keep up.

Stoner calls Rossi a worthy champion, cut is still upset with himself for sliding out in Brno and Misano.

He's had an amazing season - he only made one mistake at Assen and the rest of the time he's been on the podium, winning races, says Stoner. He's a worthy champion - eight world titles show that - and I want to congratulate him for that. I'm just disappointed that we made two mistakes in the mid-point of the season that allowed him to open up such a big advantage.