**Valentino Rossi secured his seventh world MotoGP crown after finishing third in the rain-delayed Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.**Rossi, 30, began in pole and only needed a top-four finish, with Yahama team-mate Jorge Lorenzo the only rider able to catch up in the standings.
Australian Casey Stoner won the race on his Ducati ahead of Spaniard Dani Pedrosa (Honda), with Lorenzo fourth.
The final race of the championship is in Valencia in two weeks.
Rossi, on 286 points in the standings ahead of Lorenzo (245) and Stoner (220), said: “It was a difficult year. This race reflected how the season went - very tough, with some mistakes, some disappointing results.”
“But I won six races, I was consistent and it’s another world championship. I thank all the team and everyone who’s helped me.”
Italy’s Lorenzo trailed Rossi by 38 points ahead of the championship’s penultimate race and was forced to start from the back of the grid after being penalised for not taking his starting position on time.
606: DEBATE
“What do you make of Rossi’s championship victory”
With torrential rain hampering proceedings, the race got under way after a 35-minute delay and Rossi immediately slipped back to fifth on the opening bend with Pedrosa taking full advantage through the puddles.
At the end of the first lap Rossi found himself in 11th spot but used all his experience and nerve to slowly work his way up through the field.
Despite the drying conditions during the 21-lap race, the track remained slippery with Frenchman Randy de Puniet sliding off early on and Andrea Dovizioso losing control of his Honda with seven laps to go when pushing for second spot.
With 14 laps remaining Rossi moved up into fourth spot and cruised to the finish line behind Stoner and Pedrosa amidst wild celebrations trackside which involved a chicken being held up dressed in the Italian’s blue and yellow colours.
It is Rossi’s fourth title for Yamaha and seventh premier class world title overall.
American Nicky Hayden equalled his second-best result of the season with a fifth-place finish on Sunday, ahead of Chris Vermeulen, Toni Elías, Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi.
In the 250cc category, Honda rider Hiroshi Aoyama celebrated turning 28 with victory ahead of second-placed Spaniard Hector Barbera and Italian champion Marco Simoncelli.
Aoyama holds a comfortable 21-point lead over Simoncelli going into the last race in Valencia.
Malaysian MotoGP result:
1 Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 47min 24.834secs
2 Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Honda 47:39.500
3 Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 47:44.219
4 Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 47:50.684
5 Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati 48:03.539
6 Chris Vermeulen (Aus) Suzuki 48:05.895
7 Toni Elias (Spa) Honda 48:13.389
8 Marco Melandri (Ita) Kawasaki, 48:20.391
9 Loris Capirossi (Ita) Suzuki 48:25.137
10 Mika Kallio (Fin) Ducati, 48:25.274
Championship standings (after 16 of 17 races):
1 Rossi 286 points
2 Lorenzo 245
3 Stoner 220
4 Pedrosa 209
5 Dovizioso 152
6 Edwards 148
7 Melandri 108
8 Capirossi 108
9 De Angelis 105
10 Elias 105
250cc result:
1 Hiroshi Aoyama (Jap) Honda 42 min 55.689secs
2 Hector Barbera (Spa) Aprilia 43:02.086
3 Marco Simoncelli (Ita) Gilera 43:02.086
4 Thomas Luthi (Swi) Aprilia 43:10.560
5 Hector Faubel (Spa) Honda 43:14.866
6 Ratthapark Wilairot (Tha) Honda 43:15.256
7 Alex Debon (Spa) Aprilia 43:15.944
8 Lukas Pesek (Cze) Aprilia 43:30.250
9 Alex Baldolini (Ita) Aprilia 43:46.626
10 Shuhei Aoyama (Jap) Honda 43:59875
250cc standings (After 15 of 16 races):
1 Aoyama 252 points
2 Simoncelli 231
3 Barbera 214
4 Bautista 198
5 Pasini 128
125cc result:
1 Julian Simon (Spa) Aprilia 42 min 50.916secs
2 Bradley Smith (GB) Aprilia 42:52.030
3 Pol Espargaro (Spa) Derbi 42:57.209
4 Sergio Gadea (Spa) Aprilia 42:58.919
5 Nicolas Terol (Spa) Aprilia 42:59.401
6 Sandro Cortese (Ger) Derbi 43:01.104
7 Esteve Rabat (Spa) Aprilia 43:06.030
8 Andrea Iannone (Ita) Aprilia, 43:13.067
9 Joan Olive (Spa) Derbi, 43:17.304
10 Lorenzo Zanetti (Ita) Aprilia, 43:18.029
125cc standings (after 15 of 16 races):
1 Simon 264 points
2 Smith 203.5
3 Terol 173.5
4 Espargaro 158.5
5 Gadea 141