However, although Max Biaggi, the only other man to briefly threaten Rossi’s stranglehold on the series, led the race going into the final lap, Rossi squeezed through with two corners remaining to take the win, his ninth of the season and 37th of his career, by just 0.013 seconds.The championship victory completed a symmetrical series of results for Rossi, who has won each of the 125, 250 and 500 titles at the second time of asking. His reward for success was a suffocating hug from his mother Stefania and a cake in the face from TV commentator Randy Mamola. ”It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said the affable, London-based rider. ”This is the title to win because it’s the biggest in the motorcycle world.

And I am so pleased that we were able to put on such a good show.”Belfast’s Jeremy Mc-Williams put up a spirited performance to finish fourth in a 250cc race won by series leader Daijiro Katoh, who only needs to beat Tetsuya Harada in the penultimate round in Malaysia next week in order to clinch the title.The 125cc championship remains the most keenly contested, with Youichi Ui’s second consecutive victory maintaining the pressure on Manuel Poggiali and Toni Elias, who completed the podium.* John Reynolds rounded off his British Superbike Championship-winning campaign with a hard-earned double race victory in the final round at his local Donington Park circuit. Leon Camier became the youngest winner of a British title as the 15-year-old from Bethersden clinched the 125cc crown when he rode his Honda into fourth place in the final round.. For Michael Schumacher, it was the perfect end to a season he has already described as the most fulfilling of a career that continues to break records. For Michael Schumacher, it was the perfect end to a season he has already described as the most fulfilling of a career that continues to break records.
His ninth victory of the year (his 53rd overall) equalled the seasonal mark that he shares with 1992 champion Nigel Mansell, and the 10 points that it earned made him the highest-scoring driver in history.”Winning the final race is just what you need before the winter break,” Schumacher said, contentment etched all over his face. “Monza and Indianapolis were difficult, but this was a great end to a great season and is wonderful for the team.” Ferrari chose different refuelling strategies for their drivers in an attempt to push Rubens Barrichello ahead of David Coulthard for second place in the championship. Schumacher planned two stops, but Barrichello, who needed to win, gambled on three.

Schumacher had indicated that he would help his team-mate any way that he could.The world champion led from pole position, but in the opening laps the Brazilian was flying. On the first lap he pulled off a bold pass on Ralf Schumacher going into the dauntingly fast 130R left-hander. And a lap later he claimed another Williams scalp as he thrust smoothly down the inside of Juan Pablo Montoya going into the chicane.Montoya rendered the mathematics academic, however, lunging back ahead of the Ferrari going into the first corner. Barrichello’s chance had evaporated and his strategy became a millstone around his neck. He slipped back to fifth place by the finish, only half a second ahead of Ralf Schumacher.Both Williams pilots almost shot themselves in the foot, their antics making technical director Patrick Head the fittest man in the paddock as he strode back and forth from pit wall to garage with a face like thunder.First Ralf Schumacher was given a 10-second stop and go penalty because he twice set the fastest lap by missing the chicane. Stewards had warned that one offence would be tolerated, but not two.

When Schumacher came in to serve the penalty on the 29th lap his stop coincided with Barrichello’s second refuelling call. They left the pits together, but Schumacher transgressed further by crossing the white line on the pit exit as he overtook the Ferrari.Apparently in something of a temper, he cut the chicane four laps later while resisting an overtaking manoeuvre by the Brazilian, and only conceded the place, as the rules demand, with bad grace as they went into turn one.Barrichello later described his tactics as “over the top”. Schumacher was lucky not to be penalised again for his white line infringement; the stewards ruled that since Barrichello had a problem with his pit lane speed limiter as he accelerated back into the race, Schumacher had little option but to overtake him when he did.Montoya also set a fastest lap by missing the chicane, but the Colombian was not given a penalty because he only did it once. He never gave up the fight to challenge Schumacher, but the Ferrari was a better package on its Bridgestone tyres than the Williams was on its Michelins. Behind them, Mika Hakkinen was in the running for the final podium place in what was possibly his final grand prix, but surrendered it to team-mate David Coulthard six laps from the end in recognition of all the help the Scot has given him in the past.

Coulthard and McLaren retained their second places in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.The most significant threat to Schumacher’s domination came after six laps when the final ride of Jean Alesi’s F1 career came to a spectacular end. The veteran Frenchman was challenging Kimi Raikkonen’s Sauber very strongly for ninth place when the Finn suddenly spun right in front of him in the two very fast left-hand corners behind the pits after his left rear suspension broke. With nowhere to go, Alesi’s Jordan ploughed into the Sauber and the two cars became interlocked in their own destruction as they slid off the track. As all four of the Sauber’s wheels were torn off, they rained down on the track as Eddie Irvine, Jacques Villeneuve and Raikkonen’s team-mate Nick Heidfeld sped by. All three had lucky escapes.”It’s sad to finish my career this way,” Alesi said, “but that is motor racing. Both Kimi and I were really lucky to get away without any injuries and I am so relieved that I did not hurt him. There was no way I could avoid him.” After shaking the young Finn’s hand, Alesi bade personal farewells to all of the Jordan crew after returning on foot to the pits.