Yamaha president celebrates Valentino Rossi success

Yamaha president Takashi Kajikawa has spoken of his delight at Valentino Rossi winning a third MotoGP world title for the Japanese factory at the Twin Ring Motegi yesterday.

Kajikawa was jubilant as he watched the Italian claim his sixth premier class world title in Yamaha’s home race with his fifth successive victory in 2008.

Rossi’s success also ensured Yamaha completed the’Triple Crown’ with victories in the team and constructor classes.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce today that Valentino Rossi has reclaimed the championship title in MotoGP after two years of unfortunate near misses, and that we have also achieved the ultimate goal of adding the team and constructor titles to win the coveted “triple crown” in this premier class of international road racing.

“For us at Yamaha Motor Company, this great achievement is especially great because it comes at our home GP here in Japan. We owe this great achievement to Valentino Rossi, who won the championship, as well as to Jorge Lorenzo, who won his first victory earlier this year in his first season in the MotoGP, and to Colin Edwards and James Toseland, who also rode hard throughout the season and won points on the Yamaha YZR-M1.

“I want to take this occasion to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of t he people who have made this achievement possible, including not only the team members who have worked so hard to realize it but also the Yamaha fans around the world who have cheered them on consistently through the season and the sponsors who have supported them so generously. I hope that everyone will continue to give us their support in this ongoing challenge.”