Rossi's championship winning race performance was the culmination of a dramatic and incident filled 24-lap event at the Nelson Piquet circuit, situated in the outskirts of Rio. His main championship rival Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) fell after completing only one lap, and from then on Rossi appeared content to sit behind Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) until lap 14, when the Italian rider subsequently took the lead, a lead that was only headed for a corner or two during the rest of the 118.392km race. A rash of crashes meant that there were only 14 finishers at a drenched Rio circuit.

Showboating to the finish by repeatedly backing the rear of his V5 Honda into the fast turn one, despite the soaking track surface, Rossi kept his head throughout to end his race 1.674 seconds clear of second place rider Max Biaggi (Yamaha); the only other man in with a pre-race mathematical possibility of overhauling Rossi's points total.

For Rossi, winning the first ever MotoGP championship under the new combined 990cc four-stroke/ 500cc two-stroke formula was more than just an ambition achieved. Proof of his joy was evident during an extravagant post-race celebration, which saw Rossi hold a replica World Cup soccer trophy aloft for the cameras, alongside members of his fan club dressed in Brazil strips - a homage to the host country's status as the most successful nation in world football.

"It is fantastic to win this world championship. It's my fourth world title and that is like a dream for me," said the 23-year-old Italian-born London resident. "We were really hoping for a dry race because we had worked so hard to get better settings for the dry. But it was wet and it is always difficult in these conditions.

"On the second lap I read 'Ukawa Out' on my pit board so I was happy to follow Kenny Roberts. Then the rain started to fall too hard to let me see properly in the spray from his rear tyre. I knew which way the track went, but I could not actually see it, so I decided to overtake. I could see the track clearly from then on but I knew from my pit board that Max Biaggi was closing behind and realised he would not give up. When Carlos Checa came past it was like he came from another planet until he fell. After that I wanted to keep the gap to Biaggi behind and make sure of the win."

Summing up his 2002 season to date Rossi said: "We did a lot of work on the new machine in the winter and Honda came up with a very good bike from the beginning of the season. So we had a clear advantage for the first three or four races. Then the other manufacturers started to catch up, but to win ten races and take the title four races early is fantastic."

Rossi's impressive points total, after 12 of 16 races, is 270, with Biaggi now second on 160 and Ukawa third on 156.

Local hero Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) was the top two-stroke finisher, in a fine fourth place, overcoming his lowly start position with some great riding.

"I am not frustrated to be one place off the podium at my home race," said a smiling Barros. "I rode well and I won the two-stroke race so I am very pleased about that. I did not have the same traction as the four-strokes but my back tyre performed very well. Now I am fourth in the championship and if I ride the four-stroke in Motegi then I will be able to fight to keep this position."

Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) finished seven seconds behind his team-mate, after displaying caution and aggression in equal measure.

"I am happy because I consider I had a good race," said Capirossi. "I did not make a good start and in the beginning I took it easy in order to gain more and more confidence in the difficult track conditions. When I felt more comfortable I stepped up the rhythm, but I had a lot of difficulty passing riders in front of me."

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) started well, fourth into the first turn, but fell back to a final ninth place after failing to find sufficient grip from the front end of his machine over full race distance.

Said the disappointed Dutchman; "I could do 2'04"5, maybe 2'04.0 laps but no more; that was my limit because the front tyre would not allow me to go any faster. I am a little disappointed because we had a good first two or three laps."

A 13th place finish for Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) was the result of the Japanese rider having to ride conservatively due to a lack of grip.

"We have been having problems with the set-up from the beginning of the year until now," said Harada. "In the dry we have a lack of grip and in the wet we also have a lack of grip. In any conditions it is the same for us. I did not try to push hard because of this today and was careful to bring the bike home."

Tohru Ukawa saw his slim chances of overall championship success disappear when he fell from his machine on lap two, while lying in fourth position. The fully wet track proved to be the undoing of many riders, but for Ukawa, the price he paid was heaviest of all.

"Obviously I feel disappointed," said Ukawa from pit lane. "The whole team has worked very hard over the weekend and I feel like I have let everyone down. I knew I had to put in a good start from the third row of the grid and at the end of the first lap I was fifth. Then I fell. I don't know why yet. Me or the machine? We need to look at the data and then we will find out. I just need to think positive and look forward to the remaining four races to do my best."

Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini RC211V) was forced off the track on the opening lap and failed to finish the race, having gone too far into the trackside gravel beds to return to the tarmac.

"I didn't see who touched me but I felt a bang on the side of the fairing and I found myself in the gravel trap - and fell," said a regretful Katoh. "I'm very sorry because we had a really good setting for the wet conditions."

Quotes

Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda Team: 1st: World Champion: "Amazing. Four is like a dream. It's difficult to explain. I am still full of adrenalin. You have to ask me about the championship in a week! At the beginning of the race I see a board saying "Ukawa out". It was like a gift from Tohru. I then follow Kenny but it was nearly impossible to see anything with so much water. Behind Kenny I don't see the track. From the front the situation was better. Then Checa comes past - it's like he arrived from another planet. It's lucky he did take me out. I than have to continue to push hard because Biaggi arrives. If he won I don't take the championship today. The season has been great. Honda have made a fantastic bike. We arrive at the beginning of the season with a good advantage. Yamaha come good later and we made a good season where we don't make mistake."

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons: 4th: "This was a special race for me and I tried my best. I honestly think I had a good race and Checa's fall means that I have moved up in the overall classification. Now I am fourth and if I ride the four-stroke in Motegi I will be able to fight to keep this position. In comparison to the race at Estoril, this circuit had much more grip in the wet and I really did give it my all in my home Grand Prix."

Loris Capirossi, West Honda Pons, 5th: "I'm happy because I consider I had a good race. I did not make a good start and in the beginning I took things easily in order to gain more and more confidence in the difficult track conditions. When I felt more comfortable I stepped up the rhythm, but I had a lot of difficulty passing riders in front of me. If the race had lasted a little longer I think I would have been able to catch Alex, but I am satisfied because I had a good race."

Antonio Cobas (Technical Director): "Michelin made a whole range of wet tyres available to us and the last batch that they have developed have been very competitive and both riders have been able to ride in the wet with a lot more confidence in the front and rear wheels."

Sito Pons: "Qualifying was complicated for us, but I think we sorted the situation out today and both Alex and Loris have demonstrated that they posses a champion spirit inside. I would like to congratulate the riders on their performance, but also the technical staff in the team and the guys from Michelin who all helped us to be competitive in the end."

Tohru Ukawa, Repsol Honda Team: DNF: "Obviously really disappointed. The whole team has worked really hard over the weekend and I feel I have let everyone down. The bike felt good this morning and I was really looking forward to putting in a good performance. I knew I had to make a good start from the third row and at the end the first lap I was 5th. Then I fall. I don't know why yet. Me or the machine? We need to look at the data and will find out. I just have to think positive and look forward to the remaining four races to do my best."

Jurgen van den Goorbergh: "This morning warm up we found out that the track was quite unpredictable in thee wet. I was fast but I found I was on the limit running 2mm 04s times. I got away from the start OK and was sixth at he end of lap one. But the front end was getting away from me running those times and I found I couldn't run with the other two-stroke riders I was racing with. I suppose it was not a bad race considering the circumstances. I was on the limit, the bike was not steering well and I had little feeling from thee front end. I've lost the front too many times this year to take risks in these conditions."

Team owner - manager Erv Kanemoto: "For whatever reason we just didn't have the grip we've had at other circuits we have raced on in the rain. I was surprised by our result, the track surfaces are all different but it's difficult to understand why the combination we ran today didn't match the performances we've put in before. Now we pack up and go to Motegi, another circuit where we can expect rain at some time over the weekend."

Daijiro Kato, Fortuna Honda Gresini, DNF: "I didn't see who touched me but I felt a bang on the fairing and I found myself in the gravel trap, and fell. I'm really sorry because we had a really good setting for the wet conditions and I would arrive at the end and improve the feeling I have with the five-cylinder."