Valentino Rossi punctuates his 2009 MotoGP World Championship victory

November 8, 6:34 PMDC Motorcycle Travel ExaminerMark Poesch

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With the World Championship secured last week, Valentino Rossi (#46) wasn’t about to relax his pace.  And, with Casey Stoner (#27) out of the running, it was a battle only with Dani Pedrosa (#3) and his teammate Jorge Lorenzo (#99).

MotoGP Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi rides out of the team's pit garage during practice ahead of Sunday's Motorcycle Grand Prix, the last race of the season, at the Cheste race track just outside of Valencia, Spain, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul White)

Into the first turn, Pedrosa took the lead, followed by Tony Elias (#24) pushing hard past Rossi, also followed closely by Lorenzo.  Lorenzo then passed Rossi on the outside to take 3rd in the first lap.

With Pedrosa pulling away, Elias fought off Rossi and Lorenzo for most of the first two laps, but was passed by Lorenzo in turn 13 of the second lap, and then passed by Rossi on the entry into turn one for third lap.

In the third lap, Lorenzo, with Rossi in hot pursuit, both closing on Pedrosa, Lorenzo nearly high-sided exiting one of the middle turns.  But, by some miracle of fearless reflexes, he managed to save the bike as the rear tired lifted off the guard and threatened to catapult him off.  And, as quick as it happened, he had recovered -- but not without letting Rossi through into 2nd.

For the remainder of the race, it was Dani in first, Valentino in second, and Jorge in third, with the Valencia podium determined by the fourth lap.

And so, Rossi punctuated his World Championship with a second place finish at Valencia.

For more information:
- Jorge Lorenzo secures second place in the MotoGP World Championship
- Heartbreak for Casey Stoner at the Valencia MotoGP 2009 season finale
- Ben Spies finishes stronger than ever at the 2009 Valencia MotoGP
- MotoGP.com Results and Statistics
- MotoGP.com Valencia