MotoGP: 5 interesting facts about the Malaysian Grand Prix

#4 The Malaysian MotoGP has crowned the world champion on 4 different occasions

Valentino Rossi

The Malaysian Grand Prix has over the years been held in the latter part of the MotoGP season, hence it has also been witness to the coronation of the world champion on more than one instance.

In 2003, Valentino Rossi won his 3rd premier class MotoGP World Championship at Sepang by finishing ahead of nearest rival Sete Gibernau in the points tally. He emulated this feat in Sepang twice again in 2005 and in 2009. The last instance where the title was decided in Sepang was in 2010 when Jorge Lorenzo edged out his compatriot Dani Pedrosa to win the World Championship.

---

#5 Most successful Rider at the Malaysian Grand Prix

Valentino Rossi

Across all three classes of Motorcycle racing, Valentino Rossi leads the all-time race win tally at Malaysia with a total of 7 wins. 6 of his wins came in the Premier Class of MotoGP and 1 win came in the 125cc class. 5 of his wins at Malaysia coincided in the years that he also won the MotoGP World Championship.

5-time world champion Australian Mick Doohan won 5 races at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Unlike Rossi, whose wins came at the Sepand International Circuit, Doohan won races at the Shah Alam circuit and the Johor circuit.