Second time lucky for Rossi to take five

Valentino Rossi will be keeping half an eye on Max Biaggi but should seal his fifth successive MotoGP world title at this weekend's Malaysian GP.

The Yamaha rider had a chance to claim the title last week in Japan but crashed for the first time this season as his fellow Italian Loris Capirossi cruised to victory for Ducati.

Rossi will join Italian Giacomo Agostini and Australian Mick Doohan as the only riders to have won the premier class of grand prix racing five times or more if he finishes within 12 points of Biaggi, the only rider now able to stop him.

Fourth place will suffice for Rossi to claim the title for Yamaha but the 26-year-old has sealed each of his previous championships with a victory and will be keen to do the same with a 10th victory of the year on Sunday.

Rossi secured his hat-trick of titles with Honda at Sepang in 2003 and has won three of the last four races at the modern circuit just outside Kuala Lumpur.

"Sepang is one of my favourite tracks," says Rossi. "The bike worked well there during the tests in the winter even though we had some problems at the time, but we have made a lot of progress since then.

"As far as the championship is concerned, of course I wanted to win it at Motegi but it didn't happen and we still have five more races to go. I am not feeling any more pressure than before and I will be riding to win at every round.

"For sure Max Biaggi will be strong again but this season there has been a different rider on the pace at almost every round, like Capirossi in Japan.

"Anyway, I am feeling confident and hopefully we can be back to our best this weekend."

Capirossi is on a high after putting Ducati back on top of the podium for the first time in two years last weekend and will be looking for more success at a track that ranks among the favourites for many riders.

"Sepang is a really great track, one of the best," Capirossi said.

"I really love it, because it's very technical, with fast corners, slow corners, downhill parts and uphill parts, plus it's so wide, which makes it good for fighting.

"It's also got two long straights which should be good for us because our bike is always fast."

Melandri doubtful

Marco Melandri might not race after Rossi crashed into him in Japan injuring the young Italian's right foot, but Shane Byrne will become the first British rider to race on a factory Honda as he replaces injured Australian rider Troy Bayliss.

"I have this fantastic chance to ride a Honda, I still can't believe it," said Byrne. "I have only ever dreamt of riding a bike like this."

Spain's Dani Pedrosa will be hoping the shoulder he injured in practice last week will not hinder him too much as he looks to extend his 63-point lead over Australia's Casey Stoner in the 250cc title race.

It is now 50 races since a rider has won two 125cc races in a row and Finn Mika Kallio would wrench the lead in the title race from Swiss Thomas Luthi if he manages the feat on Sunday.