Rossi wins world title with victory in Australia

Valentino Rossi hailed this year’s against-the-odds championship win as his finest achievement yet after winning the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

The Italian clinched his fourth consecutive world title in typically flamboyant fashion, stealing victory from title rival Sete Gibernau on the last lap yesterday.

Rossi was an outsider to defend his crown after moving to Gauloises Yamaha over the winter from the dominant Repsol Honda squad. Rossi hailed his transformation of Yamaha from mid-grid strugglers to title winners as the greatest entry so far on his impressive CV.