Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang, Malaysia
Sunday 25th September 2005

ROSSI TAKES SECOND SUCCESSIVE MOTOGP TITLE FOR YAMAHA

Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Valentino Rossi clinched the MotoGP World
Championship for the fifth successive season after taking second place in the
Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang today. Rossi became only the third rider in
history to win the premier-class title on five occasions, emulating the
achievements of Mick Doohan and Giacomo Agostini and adding to his championships
in the 125cc and 250cc classes. Now a seven-time World Champion, Rossi marked
the achievement by wearing a t-shirt bearing the famous number 7 worn by the
legendary Barry Sheene and launching into a riotous celebration with his fan
club, dressed as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to commemorate the occasion.

The Italian secured the championship with four races to spare thanks largely to
the swift action of his mechanics, who resolved a series of tyre and set-up
problems during this morning's warm-up session and allowed him to charge from
seventh on the grid to a sensational second place behind eventual winner Loris
Capirossi (Ducati). Rossi's Gauloises Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards finished in
tenth place after struggling with front set-up problems all weekend.

VALENTINO ROSSI (2nd - + 1.999)

"I am very happy because I gave more than 100% in the race today. We have been
in trouble all weekend and this morning I wasn't sure if I would finish on the
podium. But I got a good start and rode a clever race whilst other riders seemed
nervous and made mistakes. Little by little I moved to the front and I felt
comfortable with the bike. I passed Hayden and then swapped positions with
Capirossi a couple of times, but in the last seven laps he changed gear and I
couldn't go with him. Anyway, I am World Champion for the seventh time, which is
incredible! Last year was a bit of a surprise but this time everybody was out to
beat me. I want to thank all my mechanics, Jerry, the engineers... everybody who
works for Yamaha!"

COLIN EDWARDS (10th - +22.275)

"We made the same mistake as we did in the first round at Jerez, but in reverse.
This morning we went to a different construction front tyre and we fixed the
problem we had, but then the balance of the bike wasn't right and we didn't have
time to sort it out. The rear was sitting way too low and started to go quite
early in the race. From then on it was a case of survival. At least we know
where we went wrong and I'm really looking forward to Qatar because I had a
great race there. I want to say congratulations to Valentino because he's done
an awesome job this year."

JEREMY BURGESS - ROSSI'S CREW CHIEF

"Obviously the situation in Motegi meant that the celebrations were put off for
a week but now we can celebrate. It has been a difficult weekend for all the
teams, including ourselves, but we made a few changes in the warm-up and managed
to give Valentino a bike that we knew could run for the podium. The season
started with exactly the bike that we wanted and Yamaha has done everything we
asked for. To win nine out of thirteen races is an excellent achievement by
everybody and we have a great package. Good rider, good bike, good team... what
more could you ask for?"

RESULTS

 1. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team  43'27.523
 2. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team    +1.999
 3. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team        +2.069
 4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team           +9.227
 5. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP    +15.886
 6. Max Biaggi (ITA) Repsol Honda Team            +16.826
 7. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP        +17.249
 8. Alex Barros (BRA) Camel Honda                 +18.221
 9. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP         +20.125
10. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team     +22.275

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

 1. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA)  281
 2. Max Biaggi (ITA)       159
 3. Loris Capirossi (ITA)  142
 4. COLIN EDWARDS (USA)    139
 5. Marco Melandri (ITA)   137
 6. Nicky Hayden (USA)     134
 7. Alex Barros (BRA)      122
 8. Sete Gibernau (SPA)    115
 9. Carlos Checa (SPA)      88
10. Shinya Nakano (JPN)     69