RECAP // MotoGP 2008 ROUND 17 - SEPANG INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

Ahead of this years MotoGP race at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, ColdTrackDays correspondent Anas Zakaria looks back on last years event, where the newly crowned World Champion Valentino Rossi collected his 150th Grand Prix podium. Follow the link for a look at some amazing photos from last years race as well as a brief recap... [read more]

With the world championship already secured, the newly crowned 2008 world champion Valentino Rossi rode a very calculated race to clinch his 150th grand prix podium with a superb win.

A classic Rossi trademark, as he followed Dani Pedrosa closely from the beginning, keeping Pedrosa within close distance. Rossi's Yamaha was slower along the main straight compared to Pedrosa's Honda, so he had to play the waiting game and let Pedrosa dictate the pace from the front.

The pair set a very fast pace from the front as they quickly pulled away from 3rd place Andrea Dovizioso.

Finally, Rossi made his overtaking move into Turn 9 and slowly began to to lap faster than Pedrosa and finished the race 4 seconds ahead.

Dovizioso finished 3rd, just 0.3 seconds ahead of Nicky Hayden (above)

Shinya Nakano took 5th while Casey Stoner finished the race in a disappointing 6th place.

Rossi team mate, Jorge Lorenzo failed to finish the race as he lost the front of his bike under braking into Turn 1.


Complete Results // MotoGP @ Sepang 2008:
Pos.    No.    Rider               Manufacturer             Time           Diff
1    46    Valentino ROSSI           YAMAHA          43'06.007           
2    2    Dani PEDROSA            HONDA          43'10.015           4.008
3    4    Andrea DOVIZIOSO    HONDA          43'14.543           8.536
4    69    Nicky HAYDEN            HONDA          43'14.865        8.858
5    56    Shinya NAKANO            HONDA          43'16.590          10.583
6    1    Casey STONER           DUCATI          43'19.647          13.640
7    65    Loris CAPIROSSI           SUZUKI          43'21.943          15.936
8    5    Colin EDWARDS           YAMAHA          43'24.809          18.802
9    7    Chris VERMEULEN           SUZUKI          43'29.181          23.174
10    14    Randy DE PUNIET            HONDA          43'31.523          25.516
11    21    John HOPKINS         KAWASAKI          43'33.616          27.609
12    13    Anthony WEST         KAWASAKI          43'47.406          41.399
13    50    Sylvain GUINTOLI       DUCATI          43'51.624          45.617
14    15    Alex DE ANGELIS            HONDA          43'55.010          49.003
15    24    Toni ELIAS           DUCATI          44'05.146          59.139
16    33    Marco MELANDRI           DUCATI          44'09.335        1'03.328
17    9    Nobuatsu AOKI           SUZUKI          44'54.370     1'48.363

Not Classified
48    Jorge LORENZO           YAMAHA          25'38.557          9 laps
52    James TOSELAND           YAMAHA           4'19.122         19 laps

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For a look at more photos from the 2008 MotoGO race at the Sepang International Circuit, click here

Photo/Editorial: Anas Zakaria