VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) - Italy's world champion Valentino Rossi signed off his season in typical style winning his ninth race of the season at the Valencia MotoGP on his Yamaha here.
The Italian master rider finished ahead of compatriot Max Biaggi, riding a Honda, while Australia's Troy Bayliss ended his term with Ducati on a high note by taking third.
Six-time world champion Rossi picked up the 68th victory of his career after wrapping up his fourth MotoGP title two weeks ago in Australia.
Rossi, 25, held off a late challenge from Biaggi to claim his third race victory in a row, and guarantee Yamaha the team title.
The Italian overtook polesitter Makoto Tamada on lap six and made his decisive move on lap 15 to hold his lead until the line. Japan's Tamada finished in fifth position.
Rossi, who has another year left on his Yamaha deal, revealed on Sunday that he will stay in the world championship for at least two more years.
"For sure next year I am staying with Yamaha, and I want another year in motorbikes," said the Italian who wrapped up Yamaha's first world title since 1992 after switching from Honda last year.
"I don't know about my future, but after two more years I will decide."
Rossi added that he was delighted with his season after many had expected him to struggle when he switched teams.
"To win nine races has been unbelievable for everybody and we also won the team award," said Rossi.
"The finish of the season was perfect for us, three in a row. It was more difficult for me today than in Sepang and Phillip Island because I find this track worse than them.
"I slid at the start and lost some time but after two or three laps I was able to recover. Tamada was looking very strong, and I had a tough fight with him until he slowed and dropped back.
"My rhythm improved and I was able to push 100% to the end."
In the 250cc category, Spain's Daniel Pedrosa wrapped up a hugely successful season with a win, ahead of fellow Honda riders Toni Elias of Spain and Japan's Hiroshi Aoyama.
Spain's Hector Barbera, riding an Aprilia, won the 125cc category.
Italian Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, who claimed the world title at the Malaysian Grand Prix, came second at 0.761sec with Spain's Alvaro Bautista, riding an Aprilia, third at 0.979.
11/01/2004 - 07:15 GMT - AFP