Rossi wins LeMans race

Valentino Rossi made another historic step in his incredible career today when he took his 90th career victory in Le Mans, equaling the record set by the great Angel Nieto, to move into second in the all-time winners list behind Giacomo Agostini. It was an outstanding display from the Fiat Yamaha Team rider and he celebrated in fine style when Nieto joined him on his slow-down lap, the Spaniard taking charge of the bike with Rossi riding pillion behind him.

It was a superb day for Yamaha in general as Jorge Lorenzo once again defied his injuries to ride into an astonishing second place behind his team-mate and Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards joined the pair on the podium in third place.

Rossi had an average start and was tailing the lead group in fifth at the end of lap one. It was soon clear how well his Yamaha-Bridgestone package was working however and he picked off first Nicky Hayden then Edwards and Dani Pedrosa to move into second behind Casey Stoner, before passing him too on lap eight. From then on Rossi was too strong for the chasing pack, stretching his lead lap after lap until some spots of rain forced him to slow slightly in the last third of the race. The sun soon came back out however, allowing the riders to continue without changing bikes and the Italian to cross the line 4.997 seconds in front to take his first back-to-back victory since 2006.

The 29-year-old's 90th win moves him two points clear at the top of the championship with 97 points, whilst Lorenzo and Pedrosa are just behind him with 94 points each. Rossi will now stay here for two days of testing to ready himself for his home race at Mugello in Italy in two week's time, when he will be looking for his 7th consecutive win at the track.

Valentino Rossi 1st 44'30.799;
"To arrive at 90 wins like this and equal Angel's record is a dream for me. I had quite a lot of pressure because Angel was waiting with the special leathers to join me on the bike, so I really needed to win! It was great to ride with him – I think maybe with some practice he can be as fast as us! 180 victories together on one bike is quite impressive I think!

Race Results
1 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 44'30.799
2 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Ã- 4.997
3 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Ã- 6.805
4 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Ã- 10.157
5 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Ã- 21.762
6 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Ã- 22.395
7 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Ã- 27.806
8 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Ã- 27.995
9 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Ã- 29.344
10 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Ã- 30.822
11 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ã- 35.154
12 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Ã- 36.216
13 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ã- 52.038
14 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Ã- 1'29.307
15 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1 Lap
16 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2 L

Fastest Lap (new record) V.Rossi (Yamaha) 1'34"215
Circuit best lap 2008: D.Pedrosa (Honda) 1'32"647