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For Kenny Roberts to win the world 500GP title he had to finish in the top 6, if Valentino Rossi won the race.
Valentino did win the race, the 2nd in his 500GP career and Kenny Roberts did come home 6th, to clinch his world title. In doing so he duplicated his fathers feat. His father Kenny Snr won the title in 1978-79- 80. He was in the pits to see his son win the title.
Kenny Roberts Snr. known as King Kenny in GP circles said \"I\'m just happy for him. I\'ve no axe to grind. He\'s put a lot of work in for this and he put up with a lot of bull on the way. Winning the 500-class title is a hell of an achievement. Not many people can say they\'ve done that. He\'s become one of a great series of champions from America.\"
\"I\'m just so relieved, said Roberts \"Ever since I can first remember, this is all I wanted to be. I\'m 27 years old, so it\'s been like a 27-year wait, I\'ve never been happier. There are so many people I want to thank: Suzuki, Michelin tires, my chief engineer Warren Willing, my dad, because I wouldn\'t be here without him, and my mom too. The race was tough, I was trying not to push too hard but then more aggressive guys were coming by. Finally I got some laps on my own, got a feel for the bike and made sixth.\". Roberts also became the first American to win the title since Kevin Schwantz in 1993.
Kenny thanked everybody who played a part in the champioship win \"First of all - Suzuki, and our new sponsors Telefonica MoviStar. And Garry Taylor and Mr Shigenoya, team manager and Suzuki\'s former racing director, for having the foresight to sign me up. \"I couldn\'t have done it without Warren Willing, crew chief Bob Toomey, Alfred Willeke the computer guy, my crew Marc, Simon, Pete and Polo and the rest of the team, my trainer Dean Miller, and Michelin tires. \"We all had the same goal - this championship is for them as well as myself. There are so many other people - our technical support - from Ohlins suspension, Motul Oils, Spike, Alpinestar and Arai. \"I would like to say thank you to all my family in California, who have always supported me in racing, and the commitment that racing brings. And thank you to my mom, and to my fiancèe Rochelle.
Soon after the start Alex Barros took the lead, a popular move in front of his own people, he was followed by Norick Abe (Yamaha) and Garry McCoy (Yamaha). Barros held the lead until the eighth lap, when McCoy took the lead. Rossi worked his way through the field and on lap 24 passed McCoy to take the lead. He held it until the finish. Barros set out after him and also passed McCoy to chase Rossi to the end, coming home a second or so short. Leaving Rio Roberts had 224 points and Rossi had 173 There are still 2 rounds to race.
500cc Grand Prix:
