Rossi storms home in Indy

Eurosport - Sun, 14 Sep 22:28:00 2008

Italy's Valentino Rossi moved to within a point of an eighth world title when he won a rain-shortened Indianapolis MotoGP on Sunday.

Rossi was declared the winner after 20 laps when the race, the first at the legendary Brickyard since 1909, was red-flagged as heavy rain and galeforce winds, a legacy of Hurricane Ike, swept the circuit.

America's Nicky Hayden, on Honda, was second with Spain's Jorge Lorenzo, the teammate of Rossi, in third place.

It was world championship leader Rossi's seventh win of the season and fourth in a row.

It was also his 69th victory in the top category and with an 87-point lead over defending champion Casey Stoner of Australia and with just four races left, he can clinch the 2008 title by picking up just a point at Motegi in Japan in two weeks' time.

"These were the worst conditions of my career," said Rossi.

"It was a new track and a new surface. There was lots of water and even beer cans blowing across the track. The wind was not constant and was very strong.

"I was hoping for the red flag because it was getting dangerous."