SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) - Valentino Rossi of Italy won the Malaysian motorcycling Grand Prix to extend his overall lead in the world championship here.
Rossi's fellow countryman Max Biaggi finished second and Alex Barros of Brazil was third while Spaniard Sete Gibernau, who is the race for the title with Rossi, only managed seventh spot on his Honda.
With just two races left in the 2004 season -- in Australia and Spain -- Rossi on a Yamaha now has 254 points, extending his lead over Gibernau to 30 points.
Rossi had started from pole position but was beaten into the first corner by the superior power of Barros' Honda. The 25-year-old world champion fought his way back into first position in the fourth lap however when he got past the Brazilian under braking.
The charismatic Italian celebrated by getting off his bike and sweeping the ground behind its tyres in a swipe at race officials who accused his Yamaha team of tampering with his original starting position in Qatar last weekend.
Rossi was penalised by being shifted to the back of the grid from his original eighth place, and subsequently crashed out of the race.
"It is an important victory after what happened in Qatar. The bike and team performed well. After I overtook Barros, I concentrated from a win," he said.
Rossi said Yamaha was ready for the Australian Grand Prix on Philip Island next week, expressing confidence he would win the race.
"Yes, I like Philip Island. We just need to concentrate to win," he said.
Asked to comment on his action after the race, Rossi said: "It was a joke. The decision in Qatar was very funny."
Biaggi, who started the race on the third row, said it was not easy to overtake on the Sepang circuit but added he was happy with the 20 points he scored.
The Italian lies third with 188 points ahead of Barros on 144.
In the 250cc race, Spain's Daniel Pedrosa on a Honda blazed to victory in to boost his chances of winning the world title with two more races to go.
The 19-year-old dominated the race throughout despite the close attentions of Argentina's Sebastian Porta on an Aprilia. Porta came second while Spain's Toni Elias was third on a Honda.
Pedrosa has 279 points in the overall standings, ahead of the second-placed Porta on 231 points. Frenchman Randy De Puniet came fifth.
Italy's Andrea Dovizioso was crowned 125cc motorcycling world champion here Sunday after finishing second in the Malaysian Grand Prix behind Australian winner Casey Stoner.
Dovizioso on a Honda trailed in behind KTM rider Stoner but the second-place was enough to assure him of the 2004 title with two events left in the 16-race season. Spain's Alvaro Bautista on an Aprilia was third.
The 18-year-old Dovizioso has become the fourth youngest world champion with his victory in Malaysia.