Valentino Rossi clinched the season-opening Japanese Grand today, getting off to a superb start in the defence of his premier class motorcycling title.
The 23-year-old Italian champion powered his works Honda in wet conditions to cover 21 laps in 49min 32.766sec on the demanding 5.821-kilometer (3.61-mile) Suzuka Circuit, the first leg of the 16-round world motorcycle championships.
Japanese wild-card rider Akira Ryo finished second on a Suzuki in the premier motorcycling category, now renamed MotoGP, while third place went to Spaniard Carlos Checa, riding a Yamaha.
Starting from pole position, Rossi was locked in a furious battle with his rival riders led by Ryo.
But the red-hot Italian finally took control with six laps to go, slipping past Ryo after an exciting duel.
Rossi powered away, opening up a winning gap on the final lap to take the chequered flag for the 40th victory of his career over all three categories.
Rossi won a stunning 11 races last year, including a victory here, and added the 500cc crown to his 125 and 250 titles. During the post-race season, he reportedly signed a 15-million-dollar deal to stay at Honda.
Rain caused havoc with nearly half of the riders taking falls, including Rossi's arch-rival Max Biaggi, runner-up in the 2001 championship, and the former 500cc champion Kenny Roberts.
The second round of the world tour will be the South African Grand Prix at Welkom on April 21st.
AFP