Japan's Honda rider Daijiro Katoh clinched the world title on Sunday with victory in the Malaysian 250cc Grand Prix. Katoh beat arch-rival and compatriot Tetsuya Harada to win the 20-lap race at the 5.54 km Sepang circuit in blistering tropical heat.
Although the Brazil Grand Prix is still to come in the 16-round world championship, Katoh has now built an unassailable 34-point lead in the overall standings. Katoh, on 297 points, leads second-placed Harada, on an Aprilia, with Italy's Marco Melandri trailing in third on 174.
On Sunday, though, Katoh was the runaway winner, finishing a gruelling race in 43 minutes 22.487 seconds. Harada crossed the line more than 14 seconds later. Spaniard Fonsi Nieto was third on his Aprilia while his Italian teammate Roberto Locatelli finished fourth.
Japan's Derbi rider Youichi Ui won the Malaysian 125cc Grand Prix ahead of his main world title opponent, Manuel Poggiali of San Marino. Poggiali will now have to battle it out in the final round in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 2 to secure his first ever world title.
After Sunday's race, Poggiali leads the world championship by 23 points with 230. Ui is second on 207 points with Spain's Toni Elias a close third with 204 points.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
