VALENCIA, Spain, 3 November 2003 — World champion Valentino Rossi rounded out a second season of domination of MotoGP with his ninth victory of the year at the Valencia Grand Prix yesterday.
It was the 20th win in 32 races over the last two seasons for Rossi on the Honda RCV, but it may also have been the last with an announcement about his future with the Japanese manufacturer expected later.
The ebullient 24-year-old crossed the line with his front wheel in the air to celebrate his first victory at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, completing a full house of wins at grand prix circuits still in use.
He then donned an Afro wig and outsize sunglasses for the celebrations on the podium.
“I am delighted as I had never won on this track and had never been fast here,” said Rossi, who clinched his third straight title in Malaysia last month. “But this weekend everything has been perfect.”
The Italian’s 59th victory in 124 grands prix at all levels ensured that he tied motorcycling great Giacomo Agostini’s record of consecutive podiums with his 22nd straight top-three finish. His 357 points this season are also a record, exceeding his own 2002 mark by two.
Rossi had to work hard for his win with championship runner-up Sete Gibernau doing his best early in the race to give the 121,342 crowd some local success to cheer about.
But Rossi once again showed that he is at his finest when under pressure and did enough to keep the Catalan well in second place.
Ducati’s Loris Capirossi, taking part in his 200th grand prix, finished third ahead of his fellow Italian Max Biaggi to deprive Honda a podium sweep.
Rossi started from pole, but neither he nor Gibernau was able to get away well and Capirossi took full advantage and led into the first turn.
By the second lap, Rossi was back in front and soon he was fighting it out with Gibernau, who passed him briefly on lap 10.
There was no stopping the No. 46, however, and, after retaking the lead and holding off the Catalan’s challenge, he raced away with a series of record laps to secure victory.
