VALENTINO ROSSI toasted MotoGP world title No 6 yesterday and roared: I want more.

The Italian legend sealed his latest crown by winning the Japanese Grand Prix in dominant fashion from defending champ Casey Stoner.

Rossi, who last won the championship in 2005, took the title with three races to spare.

He said: “It’s a great victory and a great achievement. It’s at the same level as the first title with Yamaha in 2004, maybe even better.”

Rossi lifted five MotoGP crowns in a row starting in 2001.

The 29-year-old rider overtook Stoner and beat him by nearly two seconds to record his 96th Grand Prix win — his 70th in the premier class.

The victory at Motegi was Rossi’s eighth of the year and gave him an unassailable 92-point lead.

Rossi burst on to the MotoGP scene after lifting world titles at 250cc in 1999 and 125cc in 1997.

The Fiat Yamaha rider added: “I don’t think I was the favourite this season, but we have shown that we are a great team and that we never give up.

“I hope we will have more together. Now I have to get used to being world champion again!

“I think this is the hardest I have ever had to work to win a world championship and I have to say a huge thank you to the team.”

Starting on row two, Rossi moved up to third by passing Nicky Hayden with 22 laps remaining.

Stoner and then Rossi passed leader Dani Pedrosa three laps later and after the duo pulled away from the field with a burst of fastest laps, the Italian passed the struggling Aussie on lap 14 to take the win.

Ducati’s Stoner said: “We gave it a good go but, hopefully, over the next few races and next year we come back stronger.”

Brit James Toseland could only manage an 11th-place finish after being passed by John Hopkins near the end.

The Tech 3 Yamaha man said: “It was a difficult race. It was disappointing to lose out at the very end after fighting so hard.”