Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo claimed his first world MotoGP crown yesterday after finishing third in the Malaysian Grand Prix while team-mate Valentino Rossi won the race with a brilliant performance.
The 31-year-old Rossi, who joins Ducati next season, put in a spectacular performance to power his machine from the second row and beat Dovizioso and his team-mate Lorenzo to the chequered flag.
Rossi stamped his dominance from the 10th lap, leading the pack until the end of the race. He had battled his way from 11th on the first lap. The Italian clocked 41 minutes 3.448 seconds in the 20-lap race while Dovizioso was just 0.224 seconds behind.
Rossi has a strong record in Malaysia and last year clinched the MotoGP world title at Sepang when finishing third after starting from pole.
It was a dream weekend for Lorenzo after the only man who could stop him from being proclaimed champion, Honda rider Dani Pedrosa, pulled out having fractured his collarbone in a crash in Motegi last week.
Lorenzo was in imperious form during the early part of the race yesterday but tyre concerns forced him to be cautious.
“When the tyres started to slide, I decided (just) to finish the race,” he said.
“Today is the happiest day of my life and I want to celebrate it.”
Italian Andrea Dovizioso, on a Honda, came second and former world champion Australian Casey Stoner crashed out on lap two.
Rossi said it was great to secure his 46th victory with Yamaha. It was his second win of the season, the previous being in Qatar.
“To win on this track is important. Now I am back to clinch victories,” he said.
After Malaysia, the riders will head to the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island on October 17 and then to Estoril on October 31.
The championship ends on November 7 in Valencia.
Top positions
1. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 313, 2. Pedrosa (Honda) 228, 3. Rossi (Yamaha) 181, 4. Stoner (Ducati) 180, 5. Dovizioso (Honda) 179, 6. Spies (Yamaha) 152, 7. Hayden (Ducati) 139, 8. De Puniet (Honda) 94, 9. Simoncelli (Honda) 92, 10. Melandri (Honda) 86.