Rossi falls in Valencia

teamcar - In a dramatic fashion, Nicky Hayden today became the new world champion, finishing in third place on his Repsol Honda, helped by Valentino Rossi's thirteenth place -- due to a fall in the fourth lap of the "Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana". This was the season finale of the FIM Road Racing World Championship (MotoGP), and took place on the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain.

The race was won in convincing fashion by Troy Bayliss on a Marlboro Ducati, who took the lead at the first corner of the race and never looked back. He was followed by his teammate, Loris Capirossi, giving the Italian squad its first-ever one-two MotoGP finish.

When it seemed that Rossi had a fairly easy task to retain his world champion condition, the Italian's problems began with the start itself, as he dropped from the pole position to seventh place on the opening lap, while Hayden jumped from fifth to third, behind Bayliss and Capirossi.

In his need to recover places, Rossi lost his Yamaha on the fifth lap as his front wheel lost traction, taking him to the floor. The seven-time world champion was able to pick up the bike from the gravel trap and continue on the race, but 20th in the classification.

Hayden held the third place until the chequered flag fell, as the Kentucky Kid crossed the finish line after what surely were the longest laps of his life riding a bike.