Win in Japan gives Rossi his fifth MotoGP crown

ITALY'S Valentino Rossi wrapped up his fifth MotoGP championship in style by powering to victory in the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi yesterday.

Rossi won his third world title for Yamaha and his first since 2005 on the Japanese manufacturer's home circuit after starting from fourth on the grid.

It also marked Rossi's sixth premier-class world title overall following his 500cc triumph for Honda before the event evolved as MotoGP.

"It's difficult to compare titles but this one definitely feels great," Rossi said. "It was a tough battle this year. To win the championship with a race win is fantastic. I've won some hard championships – like the first with Yamaha in 2004 – but this one I maybe tried to put more effort in outside of the races to try and win."

The 29-year-old only needed to finish in the top three to clinch the title with three races left in the 2008 season and he quickly overhauled rivals Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa.

Rossi passed Honda's Pedrosa on lap six and defending world champion Stoner's Ducati eight laps later before surging away to win his fifth race in a row, in 43min 09.599sec. Stoner finished runner-up in the 24-lap race, while Pedrosa took third.