Jorge Lorenzo has won the 2010 MotoGP World Championship after finishing third in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

With Dani Pedrosa missing the race due to injury, the Fiat Yamaha rider, winner of seven of the 15 races so far this year, only needed to claim ninth place to become champion with three rounds still to go.

Lorenzo led the early stages of the race before settling for a safe third behind team-mate Valentino Rossi (1st) and Andrea Dovizioso (2nd).

Rossi stopped to shake hands with Lorenzo as he celebrated on track. Lorenzo held a card saying ‘Game Over’.

Lorenzo later got his Spanish flag caught in the rear chain on the slow down lap and had to seek assistance from marshals.

Lorenzo is Spain’s second premier-class champion, after Alex Criville in 1999. His title is Yamaha’s fifth since the switch to four-strokes in 2002 – the others being won by team-mate Valentino Rossi (in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009).

2010 is Lorenzo’s third season in MotoGP, all of which have been spent with Fiat Yamaha.

The 23-year-old Mallorcan recently signed for two more seasons at the factory M1 team. Lorenzo will be joined in the team by Ben Spies next year, when Rossi’s moves to Ducati.

Lorenzo previously won the 250cc world championship in 2006 and 2007.

Valentino Rossi wins his seventh MotoGP title with one round still to go.

The race was delayed due to a rain storm and wet throughout.

Jorge Lorenzo began the race from the back of the grid.

Niccolo Canepa, who injured his arm in Friday practice at Phillip Island last weekend, was replaced by Aleix Espargaro.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 47min 24.834 sec
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 47min 39.500 sec
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team. 47min 44.219 sec
4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 47min 50.684 sec
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 48min 3.589 sec
6. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 48min 5.895 sec
7. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 48min 13.389 sec
8. Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing Team 48min 20.391 sec
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 48min 25.137 sec
10. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 48min 25.274 sec
11. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 48min 26.489 sec
12. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 48min 26.681 sec
13. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 48min 35.612 sec
14. Gabor Talmacsi HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 48min 40.685 sec
15. James Toseland GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 49min 15.506 sec

DNF:
Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team

Niccolo Canepa, who injured his arm in Friday practice at Phillip Island last weekend, has been replaced by Aleix Espargaro.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.518 sec
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.087 sec
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.254 sec
4. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.455 sec
5. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 1.716 sec
6. Toni Elias SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 1.918 sec
7. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.980 sec
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 2.098 sec
9. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.195 sec
10. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.274 sec
11. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.362 sec
12. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 2.435 sec
13. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.859 sec
14. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.032 sec
15. Marco Melandri ITA Hayate Racing Team 2min 3.088 sec
16. James Toseland GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 3.528 sec
17. Gabor Talmacsi HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP 2min 3.874 sec

Fastest practice time:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda 2min 1.427sec (FP2)

2008 Malaysian Grand Prix – 19/10/2008:
Pole position:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (B) 2min 1.548sec
Fastest race laps by manufacturer:
Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha (B) 2min 2.249sec
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (B) 2min 2.379sec
Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro (B) 2min 2.759sec
Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki (B) 2min 2.927sec
John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing (B) 2min 3.543sec