Lorenzo main threat to Rossi's throne

The Yamaha rider had the best bike, but it was not as simple for the world champion, who faced a formidable rival in his younger teammate on the way to a sixth MotoGP title.

Jorge Lorenzo, foreground, and Valentino Rossi, far side, enjoyed an intriguing tussle.

If winning the MotoGP title in 2008 showed that Valentino Rossi was still the man in the top echelon of motorcycle racing then successfully retaining his crown this year demonstrated that he could still walk the walk when under fierce pressure from within his own team. Yamaha gave the Italian the best bike in the field, but it was not as simple as that for the world champion, who won his sixth MotoGP title and ninth world title in all as he faced a formidable rival in his younger teammate Jorge Lorenzo.

The Spaniard pushed Rossi hard, probably harder than at any other time in his career, and was often the quicker man in qualifying and sometimes impossible to beat when he had the bike set up right - something Rossi had never faced before in his career. While there were the occasional mistakes from Rossi, largely he kept his cool picked up points and podiums when Lorenzo was just too good, and then made sure he took full advantage when he had the upperhand, forcing mistakes out of his impetuous rival.

Rossi won six races to Lorenzo's four and it was his maturity in their duels at the front and ability to settle for second when he knew his rival was the faster man that made the difference in the end. He won the championship with a round to spare in Malaysia, but he was made to work harder than the final gap of 45 points would indicate. How he deals with Lorenzo, with another year's experience under his belt next year, will be fascinating.

Casey Stoner, the 2007 champion, missed three races in the middle of the season due to a mysterious illness but the Australian showed he may be a force to be reckoned with in 2010 on the Ducati as he won in Australia and Malaysia. Dani Pedrosa and Honda were quick, but not enough to challenge the Yamahas, but the Spaniard had the consolation of two race triumphs, while his Italian teammate, Andrea Dovizioso, claimed his first win in the series in Britain.

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