Italy’s Valentino Rossi moved to within a point of an eighth world title when he won a rain-shortened Indianapolis MotoGP on Sunday.
Rossi was declared the winner after 20 laps when the race, the first at the legendary Brickyard since 1909, was red-flagged as heavy rain and galeforce winds, a legacy of Hurricane Ike, swept the circuit.
Nicky Hayden, on a Honda, was second with Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi’s teammate, in third place. It was Rossi’s seventh win of the season. It was also his 69th victory in the top category and with an 87-point lead over defending champion Casey Stoner and just four races left, he can clinch this year’s title by picking up a point in Japan in two weeks time.
PHOTO: AFP
“These were the worst conditions of my career,” said Rossi, who completed 84.32km in 37min 20.095sec.
“When the wind and rain came it became very hard,” he said. “I think I could have kept going for another eight laps, but there were things flying through the air — beer cans, plastic glasses — so really I think it was the right decision to stop the race.”
“Sincerely I don’t think I’ve ever ridden in conditions like these and I was lucky because I was far in front and didn’t have to take any big risks,” he said.
Rossi’s 69th win took him ahead of compatriot Giacomo Agostini to the top of the all-time premier class winners list, a record which has stood for more than 30 years.
Agostini claimed the 1975 500cc title with Yamaha and won six of his 68 victories with the Japanese factory. Rossi was pleased to grab two slices of motorcycling history.
“To win the first race here at Indianapolis is a great emotion and to beat Agostini’s record is also incredible, now I hope my record will stand for 30 years like his,” he said.
Hayden set the early pace, taking the lead on the second lap and setting the fastest laps of the race as he tried in vain to break free of Rossi.
Rossi, however, stuck with the 2006 World Champion. He overtook Hayden on the 14th lap and held on for the win.
“I had a great race with Nicky,” Rossi said. “He was really hard to pass, so congratulations to him.”
Hayden, who had missed two races with an injured foot, returned with a podium finish, although his nearly five-second advantage over Lorenzo had all but evaporated on the 20th lap when the decision was made to stop the race.
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