Rossi: I pray for legendary battles like that.

Valentino Rossi moved another step closer to the summit of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship after winning a 'legendary battle' with countryman Loris Capirossi in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

After starting from pole position at Sepang, Rossi was part of an entertaining battle for positions over the first half of the race before breaking clear alongside Ducati star Capirossi. Just as they have done on so many occasions in the past, the pair then became embroiled in a cat and mouse chase that had the 43,182 spectators on their feet well beyond the chequered flag.

With half a lap of the Sepang circuit remaining, Rossi dived past Capirossi for the final time, opening out a crucial advantage within the next two corners and denying his rival the opportunity to make a last-gasp pass in the final hairpin - despite both riders running wide in their desperate efforts to brake as late as possible.

"I pray every week for a race like this," beamed Rossi. "It was another legendary battle between myself and Loris - very hard but also very fair. Myself and Loris are old style riders, very aggressive, however we are always very fair with each other. I played my cards well and, although I won this time, it could easily be Loris next time. It was one of my favourite races of my career. When the red and white fairing of Loris's Ducati kept coming up alongside me I could not stop laughing.

"At Brno he escaped but today I was able to hang on to him," continued the Camel Yamaha star. "When both our bikes are working well it is always spectacular because his performs better in some sections and mine in others so it makes for a beautiful fight. I enjoy racing with him so much because there is a lot of respect between us and a great trust - he is probably the hardest rival I have ever had but also one of my best friends in the paddock.

"At one point I thought I'd got away but then he appeared again and I knew it was going to be a battle to the end. He tried to break free but I stayed with him and I think we passed each other about ten times in the last few laps, it was amazing. I want to say a huge 'thank you' to everybody at Yamaha because they virtually cancelled their summer holidays to get this bike working at the maximum again and I was able to push at 100% today. I also need to say another big 'thank you' to Michelin, who have worked really hard to help us to get back to this level of competitiveness."

Rossi's victory moves him up to third in the championship, four points behind Dani Pedrosa and 26 adrift of series leader Nicky Hayden, with 100 points still available: "For the two Honda riders to finish third (Pedrosa) and fourth (Hayden) is not ideal but all I can do is keep winning races so that is what I will try to do."

"What an incredible day! Another great race from Valentino and from our part all I can say is that we really enjoyed the show but we're enjoying the 25 points even more! Valentino never gives up and his performance today was typical of him, I think that says it all," added team director Davide Brivio.

Round fourteen of the 2006 MotoGP World Championship takes place next weekend at Phillip Island, Australia.