Fiat Yamaha of Valentino Rossi won the sixth World Cup crown in Japan in Motegi MotoGP after winning the fourth on the grid.Its rival Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa finished second and third, respectively. A podium would have been enough for the Italian to take his first title for three years, but he chose to call in style.
"It's difficult to compare the titles, but this definitely feels great," said Rossi afterwards. "It was a tough battle this year.
"To win the championship with a race win is fantastic.
"I've won some championships hard - like the first with Yamaha in 2004 - but maybe I tried to put a greater effort on the outside of the races to try to win."
Do not start so well. Stoner Ducati Marlboro man through to snatch the first pole position sitter Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's team-mate, as it was slow off the line.
Repsol Honda pair Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden were second and third and Sheffield rider James Toseland eighth after the two early locations.
Lorenzo stayed ahead of Rossi, who appeared tentative; however in the second round was third, taking in up and down in the first pair.
Pedrosa, who started fifth, took top spot on lap two, but Stoner sneak up the inside to call again on lap four.
There was little action in the entire field - Marco Melandri's trip to the gravel and pull-down menu to one of the few moments of drama - but at the front of the action was intriguing.
Rossi, Pedrosa neutralized by the 10th tour of the track and fell in front of the Spanish front to fight countryman Lorenzo as' The Doctor 'was reigning champion after Stoner.
Rossi took the lead midway through the race with 12 laps still to run, Stoner was unable to continue with the pilot of Yamaha as provided in the home eighth world title and sixth in all at the first class.
Toseland evenutally ended 11 the Técnica 3 Yamaha as Shinya Nakano, fellow rookie Andrea Dovizioso and John Hopkins happened, the latter in the final laps.
Stoner second place gives him a 11-point advantage over Pedrosa in the battle for second place in the championship.
"It's difficult to compare the titles, but this definitely feels great," said Rossi afterwards. "It was a tough battle this year.
"To win the championship with a race win is fantastic.
"I've won some championships hard - like the first with Yamaha in 2004 - but maybe I tried to put a greater effort on the outside of the races to try to win."
Do not start so well. Stoner Ducati Marlboro man through to snatch the first pole position sitter Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi's team-mate, as it was slow off the line.
Repsol Honda pair Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden were second and third and Sheffield rider James Toseland eighth after the two early locations.
Lorenzo stayed ahead of Rossi, who appeared tentative; however in the second round was third, taking in up and down in the first pair.
Pedrosa, who started fifth, took top spot on lap two, but Stoner sneak up the inside to call again on lap four.
There was little action in the entire field - Marco Melandri's trip to the gravel and pull-down menu to one of the few moments of drama - but at the front of the action was intriguing.
Rossi, Pedrosa neutralized by the 10th tour of the track and fell in front of the Spanish front to fight countryman Lorenzo as' The Doctor 'was reigning champion after Stoner.
Rossi took the lead midway through the race with 12 laps still to run, Stoner was unable to continue with the pilot of Yamaha as provided in the home eighth world title and sixth in all at the first class.
Toseland evenutally ended 11 the Técnica 3 Yamaha as Shinya Nakano, fellow rookie Andrea Dovizioso and John Hopkins happened, the latter in the final laps.
Stoner second place gives him a 11-point advantage over Pedrosa in the battle for second place in the championship.
Valentino Rossi Factbox
Born: February 16, 1979 in Urbino, Italy
His first passion was go-karts, but continues his father Graziano, taking up motocycling and races in his first Grand Prix with Aprilia in 1996 in the 125cc category.
* Wins the 125cc world championship in 1997
* Move to the category of 250cc World Championship and stamps in 1999 with Aprilia.
* Takes the 500cc world title with Honda in 2001 before winning the 2002 and 2003 championships as the event becomes MotoGP.
* Switch to Yamaha and to guarantee the 2004 and 2005 world titles to become one of the sport's all-time high.
* Suffers disappointing 2006 and 2007 seasons, but pledges to stick with Yamaha and its decision is justified when surges championship in 2008.
* Nicknamed "The Doctor" in Italy, has become one of the most beloved athletes, despite a probe of tax evasion in 2007 which resulted in him paying a 35 million-euro bill.
* Known for their colorful hats, Rossi has also shown interest in Formula One and Rally Car, often the media speculated that one day is going to change two wheels by four.
Born: February 16, 1979 in Urbino, Italy
His first passion was go-karts, but continues his father Graziano, taking up motocycling and races in his first Grand Prix with Aprilia in 1996 in the 125cc category.
* Wins the 125cc world championship in 1997
* Move to the category of 250cc World Championship and stamps in 1999 with Aprilia.
* Takes the 500cc world title with Honda in 2001 before winning the 2002 and 2003 championships as the event becomes MotoGP.
* Switch to Yamaha and to guarantee the 2004 and 2005 world titles to become one of the sport's all-time high.
* Suffers disappointing 2006 and 2007 seasons, but pledges to stick with Yamaha and its decision is justified when surges championship in 2008.
* Nicknamed "The Doctor" in Italy, has become one of the most beloved athletes, despite a probe of tax evasion in 2007 which resulted in him paying a 35 million-euro bill.
* Known for their colorful hats, Rossi has also shown interest in Formula One and Rally Car, often the media speculated that one day is going to change two wheels by four.
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