By Nick Little

Two top racing events, in two countries, crowned two world champions. The 25th of October was full of high class motorcycle racing, televised and watched worldwide. Sepang in Malaysia held the penultimate MotoGP in wet conditions, whilst in scorching sunshine at the circuito do Algarve, Portugal, the final race of the 2009 World Superbike Championships was held.

In the MotoGP a wet track didn’t stop Valentino Rossi winning his 9th world championship crown, taking his achievements to the highest echelons of motorcycling history. Rossi who qualified 1st grid spot beat his previous 2006 pole position lap record with a best lap time of 2’00.518 just over half a second faster than his championship contender and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo. Dani Pedrosa was third fastest to complete the race front row.

Meanwhile at the World Superbikes in Portugal, sleeping after Saturdays qualifying sessions, American Ben Spies of Yamaha World Superbikes Team and championship leader Noriyuki Haga of Ducati Xerox Team prepared for the two races that they would decide the overall world title duel. Prior to Sunday Haga held a 10 point lead over Spies with a possible 25 points available for 1st place in each race. Good qualifying sessions put Spies on pole with 1’42.412. Shane “Shakey” Byrne GBR, Michel Fabrizio ITA and Jonathan Rea GBR completed the front Row for Sunday’s two superbike races.

Back in Sepang, after a 35 minute delay due to rain, the MotoGP race started with drama before the lights. Lorenzo suffered bike problems on the warm up lap which delayed his arrival to the grid, relegating his second row position to the back of the field for the start. No matter though as Lorenzo rapidly caught and overtook Rossi, who had slipped back to 10th after a slow get away. Casey Stoner, 4th on the grid pulled away to eventually win his second successive podium by a comfortable 14.666 second margin. Pedrosa finished second after fighting for position with team-mate Dovizioso who eventually slid off. Rossi, who only needed to come 4th if Lorenzo won, came 3rd to complete the Podium and clinch the 2009 world championship with before the final race in Valencia.

As Rossi and the Fiat Yamaha were no doubt celebrating their title, the 1st race of the WSBK championship was underway back in the Algarve with the pressure on both Haga and Spies, the title contenders. Spies, with a textbook start, led race one to the finish line whilst being constantly hounded by determined Max Biaggi (Aprilla Racing) throughout. Disaster for Haga on lap six saw him crash out, earning him no points and handing a 15 point title lead to race one winner Spies.

Race two would be down to the wire with 15 points the difference and 25 available to Spies and Haga. Spies made sure of his points by riding a sensible race, monitoring Haga’s position throughout. Race 2 was won by Ducati’s Fabrizio. Second place and 20 points went to team-mate Haga, but Spies, with 5th place and 11 points took his first ever history making victory for Yamaha and the opportunity to lift the 2009 World Superbike championship trophy in his Rookie year! Spies beat Haga by a close 6 points to end the 2009 WSBK championship Season with a record breaking year for himself and Yamaha.