The already immortal Valentino Rossi has just risen in the ranks once again to take his seventh Moto GP Championship title, or nine titles in all classes.
After an eventful season which saw Rossi and his team mate, Jorge Lorenzo, battling to the very last, Rossi finally secured the title with a third place victory yesterday at Sepang, Malaysia.
The Doctor, wearing his favourite AGV GP-Tech Five Continents helmet, followed Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa over the line, but his third placing after a rocky start was by far adequate to ensure the 2009 championship was his.
James Toseland will probably be happy to see the back of Moto GP after a disappointing, distant last place finish. He is set to leave the premier class for World Superbikes, having swapped places with Texan Ben Spies who will appear as a wildcard at the final Moto GP race in Valencia on 8th November before joining the GP ranks for good next season.