MOTO GRAND PRIX

Italy's Rossi wins Czech MotoGP

08-17-2009 | AFP

Panama Star BRNO, CZECH REPU. Italy's Valentino Rossi on a Yamaha won the MotoGP race at the Czech Grand Prix meeting here on Sunday to extend his overall championship lead and move a big step closer to clinching a ninth world title. After a thrilling head-to-head duel with Spanish stablemate Jorge Lorenzo, Rossi profited from the latter's fall five laps from the finish to extend his lead to 50 points going into the final seven races, starting with Indianapolis on August 30.

Lorenzo had passed Rossi three laps earlier but his spectacular tumble - from which he emerged unscathed although he angrily threw his gloves down and kicked out at his machine - handed Rossi a clear run through to the finish and a 102nd career victory.

The 30-year-old Rossi, nicknamed The Doctor, is now closing in on Giacomo Agostini's all-time mark of 122 race wins. After crossing the line exuberantly on one wheel in 43min 08.991sec he leapt over the barrier to celebrate with his crew, warmly embracing them in turn. Afterwards, he had time to offer a word of sympathy to Lorenzo - while insisting that he could not think of putting yet more title champagne on ice.

"It's really a shame for Jorge," said the Italian, noting that, despite his handsome lead "there's a long way to go. I have to stay focused."Dani Pedrosa of Honda placed second 11.766ec adrift of Rossi while fellow Honda rider Toni Elias is looking for a new team for 2010.