Rossi wins in Malaysia

Italy’s Valentino Rossi is poised to secure his fourth successive MotoGP world championship title next weekend in Australia after victory in Malaysia yesterday put him within touching distance.

His great rival for this season’s crown, Spaniard Sete Gibernau, trailed home in seventh place to lose further ground at the top of the standings.

With two races of the season remaining, at Australia’s Phillip Island next week and the Valencia circuit in Spain a fortnight later, Rossi is on the brink of history.