Valentino Rossi rode a perfect race to win Yamaha’s home Grand Prix in Japan today, claiming the 2008 MotoGP World Championship title in the process. In doing so the 29-year-old Italian became only the second rider in history to recapture the title after two years, the other being Giacomo Agostini, whose all-time victory record Rossi surpassed at the last race in Indianapolis. This is Rossi’s third title with Yamaha, his sixth in the premier class and eighth in total in a career spanning 12 years. His team-mate Jorge Lorenzo finished a fighting fourth and today’s results also secured the triple crown of Rider, Manufacturer and Team titles for Yamaha and the Fiat Yamaha Team.
Rossi slipped some places at the start and was in fifth first time around. He soon found his rhythm however as his Bridgestone tyres warmed up and he passed Lorenzo and Nicky Hayden on the next lap before settling in behind Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, the three contesting the next four laps within a few tenths of a second of one another. On lap six both Rossi and Stoner got by Pedrosa and from then on the Italian was on his championship rival’s tail, determined to find a way to pass him and win the race despite the title being his with a podium finish. With ten laps to go Rossi did just that and it was then a straight run to the finish as he pulled away from Stoner, crossing the line 1.943 seconds and 92 championship points ahead to seal a very special title after two barren years.
Rossi has won eight races this season and, with three remaining, he is still in with a chance of matching the 11 he won in his second season with Yamaha in 2005. Today’s win was his 70th in the premier class, his 96th in total and his 148th career podium.
Valentino Rossi (Position: 1st Time: 43'09.599):
“It’s a great victory and a great achievement; I think it’s at the same level as the first title in 2004 with Yamaha, maybe even better! 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 through all through the season! Pedrosa and Stoner today were very strong and it was fun to fight with them like this, I am happy that it was a good race for the fans. It was a fantastic feeling to take the title with a win, like I did in 2001 and 2004. I think this is the hardest I have ever had to work to win a world championship and I have to say a huge thank you to Yamaha, my mechanics, the team and everyone involved for working this hard alongside me. Of course I also have to say a special thank you to Bridgestone, they have done a great job with the tyres all season and the decision to be with them has been a big part of our success this season. We have lost for two years and I don’t think I was the favourite this season, but we have shown that we are a great team and that we never give up. I am so happy that I have now won three titles with Yamaha because this is how many I won with my last team and I want Yamaha to have the same merit – I am a Yamaha rider and I feel different with Yamaha than with anyone else before – I hope we will have more together! Now I have to get used to being World Champion again!”
Davide Brivio (Team Manager):
“Simply amazing! Every time he surprises us. We’ve 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. We knew we had to improve the bike and make it faster after last year and Yamaha have done this, but Valentino worked very hard in the winter too and, together with Bridgestone, we were able to start very strongly and get better as the season progressed. 2006 and 2007 made everyone stronger, including the relationship between Valentino and Yamaha; we knew that we didn’t want to be in this situation again and so this has been a great motivation for this victory. Congratulations to Valentino, to all the team and Yamaha engineers, and thank you to Bridgestone, Fiat and all of our sponsors and partners. Congratulations also to Jorge’s team and to Tech 3, they have all played a big part in winning the Triple Crown.”
forward to Australia now with high hopes of even better results.”
| | Race results | | | |
| | | | | |
| Pos. | Rider | Nation | Team | Total time |
| | | | | |
| 1. | V. ROSSI | ITA | Fiat Yamaha Team | 43'09.599 |
| 2. | C. STONER | AUS | Ducati Marlboro Team | + 1.943 |
| 3. | D. PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | + 4.866 |
| 4. | J. LORENZO | SPA | Fiat Yamaha Team | + 6.165 |
| 5. | N. HAYDEN | USA | Repsol Honda Team | + 24.593 |
| 6. | L. CAPIROSSI | ITA | Rizla Suzuki MotoGP | + 25.685 |
| 7. | C. EDWARDS | USA | Tech 3 Yamaha | + 25.918 |
| 8. | S. NAKANO | JPN | San Carlo Honda Gresini | + 26.003 |
| 9. | A. DOVIZIOSO | ITA | JiR Team Scot MotoGP | + 26.219 |
| 10. | J. HOPKINS | USA | Kawasaki Racing Team | + 37.131 |
| 11. | J. TOSELAND | GBR | Tech 3 Yamaha | + 37.574 |
| 12. | R. DE PUNIET | FRA | LCR Honda MotoGP | + 38.020 |
| 13. | M. MELANDRI | ITA | Ducati Marlboro Team | + 39.768 |
| 14. | S. GUINTOLI | FRA | Alice Team | + 45.846 |
| 15. | A. WEST | AUS | Kawasaki Racing Team | + 55.748 |
| 16. | T. ELIAS | SPA | Alice Team | + 59.320 |
| 17. | A. DE ANGELIS | RSM | San Carlo Honda Gresini | + 1'12.398 |
| | Championship Standings: | | |
| | | | |
| 1. | Valentino Rossi (ITA) | Fiat Yamaha Team | 312 |
| 2. | Casey Stoner (AUS) | Ducati Marlboro | 220 |
| 3. | Dani Pedrosa (SPA) | Repsol Honda | 209 |
| 4. | Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) | Fiat Yamaha Team | 169 |
| 5. | Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) | JiR Team Scot MotoGP | 136 |
| 6. | Colin Edwards (USA) | Tech 3 Yamaha | 118 |
| 7. | Chris Vermeulen (AUS) | Rizla Suzuki | 117 |
| 8. | Nicky Hayden (USA) | Repsol Honda | 115 |
| 9. | Loris Capirossi (ITA) | Rizla Suzuki MotoGP | 96 |
| 10. | Shinya Nakano (JPN) | San Carlo Honda Gresini | 95 |
| 11. | James Toseland (GBR) | Tech 3 Yamaha | 90 |
| 12. | Toni Elias (SPA) | Alice Team | 86 |
| 13. | Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) | Alice Team | 58 |
| 14. | Alex De Angelis (RSM) | San Carlo Honda Gresini | 55 |
| 15. | Marco Melandri (ITA) | Ducati Marlboro | 51 |
| 16. | Randy De Puniet (FRA) | LCR Honda MotoGP | 47 |
| 17. | John Hopkins (USA) | Kawasaki Racing | 47 |
| 18. | Anthony West (AUS) | Kawasaki Racing | 42 |
| 19. | Ben Spies (USA) | Rizla Suzuki MotoGP | 20 |
| 20. | Jamie Hacking (USA) | Kawasaki Racing Team | 5 |
| 21. | Tadyuki Okada (JPN) | Repsol Honda Team | 2 |
