Catalunya MotoGP: Valentino Rossi revels in last corner success

Reigning world champion Valentino Rossi hailed his amazing last corner victory over Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo in Montmelo today as one of the greatest of his illustrious career.

The Italian ambushed Lorenzo with a stunning last corner overtake that moved the eight-times world champion to 99 Grand Prix victories.

None of his previous 98 could have been won in more sensational fashion as Rossi fought out a titanic scrap with in-form team-mate Lorenzo.

Neither could make a decisive breakaway in the gripping 25-lap encounter and it came down to a nail-biting last lap decider.

And just when Lorenzo thought he’d done to claim the win in front of his fanatical home support, Rossi produced an incredible last corner overtake at the final corner to win by just 0.095s.

It was the first time that a MotoGP race has been won with last lap overtake lap since the Estoril GP in 2006.

Rossi was the loser on that occasion when Toni Elias defeated him in a result that proved pivotal in the final outcome of the world championship, eventually won by Nicky Hayden.

Rossi was ecstatic after his second win of 2009, not least because legendary crew chief Jerry Burgess had learned on Saturday night that his mother had passed away in Australia.

Dripping with sweat as temperatures peaked at nearly 40 degrees, Rossi said: “As we say in Italy, “Mamma Mia!” I think I can honestly say that this was one of the best and hardest wins of my career.

“Maybe Laguna last year was more important but this was a great, great victory because it went to the very last corner and it’s a long time since that has happened.

“I have dreamed about that move for the last two weeks and today it worked and I am so happy to have this 99th win.

“We did a perfect job all weekend and my M1 and Bridgestone tyres were brilliant, but we knew that Lorenzo was in the same situation and for sure he was very strong today.

“I had to be very brave and take it right to the limit in order to beat him. This victory today is more important than the 25 points and anyway now we all have the same, what a championship this is!

“As well as thanking my team, I especially want to dedicate this win to my crew chief Jeremy Burgess because his mother sadly died yesterday.

“I have to say thank you to her and to him because without him, for sure, I would never have arrived at 99 wins

“Now I am going to go to sleep for quite a long time because I need to recover from this excitement!”

Rossi’s win means he’s tied on 106-points at the top of the championship with Lorenzo and Casey Stoner, who rode a heroic race to third despite severe a stomach bug.

Assessing the current title race, Rossi added: “It’s unbelievable. I think it has never happened before because after six races we are equal points, but not two riders, three riders and two team-mates.

“This is a great weekend, but in the future we arrive at different tracks, different conditions, different temperature on the ground, so everyone has to be so constant.”