BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Motorbikes | Rampant Rossi rules in Rio

Italian Valentino Rossi clinched MotoGP world title by claiming victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday.

The Honda rider clinched his 10th win in 12 races to open up an unassailable lead of 106 points with four races left.

It was his 49th victory in just 104 starts at all levels of grand prix racing.

The first time being world champion was like a dream.... this is more difficult to explain

Valentino Rossi

It was also his fourth world title in seven seasons after last year's 500cc crown and the 125cc and 250cc championships he won in 1997 and 1999.

Rossi began the race needing to score 11 more points than team-mate Tohru Ukawa, second in the championship at the start of the day.

And when the Japanese rider skidded out of the race after just two laps, the title race was over.

There was more drama on the 17th lap when Spaniard Carlos Checa overtook Rossi - only to skid off the track almost immediately.

Max Biaggi, Rossi's compatriot and arch-rival, finished second in Rio to move up to second in the championship.

Rossi is drenched with champagne after his win
After he took the checkered flag, Rossi stood his bike up in a wheelie and saluted the roaring crowd.

"The first time being world champion was like a dream. This is more difficult to explain," said the Italian.

"We knew it would be difficult to win the championship here today."

Biaggi, who is leaving Yamaha at the end of the season to join Pramac Honda, admitted that his rival deserved the title.

"I want to congratulate Rossi, he had a good championship and deserved to win," said the Italian.


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