Fruitful day for Valentino Rossi today as he wins the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi and, by the same token, earns his sixth world championship.
The Fiat Yamaha rider took the lead from archrival Casey Stoner (Ducati) on Lap 14 and the 2007 champion was never able to keep up the pace afterwards. It was Rossi's fifth victory in a row.
Dani Pedrosa (Honda) completed the podium with a third place, having to fend off continuous attacks from Rossi's teammate Jorge Lorenzo who was on pole but had a poor start that put him rapidly in fourth.
Race Results - Motegi, Japan:
Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 43:09.599
2. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) + 1.943
3. Dani Pedrosa Honda (B) + 4.866
4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) + 6.165
5. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) + 24.593
6. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) + 25.685
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) + 25.918
8. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) + 26.003
9. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) + 26.219
10. John Hopkins Kawasaki (B) + 37.131
11. James Toseland Yamaha (M) + 37.574
12. Randy de Puniet Honda (M) + 38.020
13. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) + 39.768
14. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) + 45.846
15. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) + 55.748
16. Toni Elias Ducati (B) + 59.320
17. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) +1:12.398
Retirements:
Rider Bike Laps
Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 16
Kousuke Akiyoshi Suzuki (B) 0
The Fiat Yamaha rider took the lead from archrival Casey Stoner (Ducati) on Lap 14 and the 2007 champion was never able to keep up the pace afterwards. It was Rossi's fifth victory in a row.
Dani Pedrosa (Honda) completed the podium with a third place, having to fend off continuous attacks from Rossi's teammate Jorge Lorenzo who was on pole but had a poor start that put him rapidly in fourth.
Race Results - Motegi, Japan:
Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 43:09.599
2. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) + 1.943
3. Dani Pedrosa Honda (B) + 4.866
4. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) + 6.165
5. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) + 24.593
6. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) + 25.685
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) + 25.918
8. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) + 26.003
9. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) + 26.219
10. John Hopkins Kawasaki (B) + 37.131
11. James Toseland Yamaha (M) + 37.574
12. Randy de Puniet Honda (M) + 38.020
13. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) + 39.768
14. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) + 45.846
15. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) + 55.748
16. Toni Elias Ducati (B) + 59.320
17. Alex de Angelis Honda (B) +1:12.398
Retirements:
Rider Bike Laps
Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 16
Kousuke Akiyoshi Suzuki (B) 0