Rossi celebrates 'beautiful' victory

"This weekend I noticed from many people a great will for someone to beat me, but we've demonstrated that when things are sorted I'm still the man to beat," Rossi told Italia1 television.

"The bike went very well from the first lap. We used to have some problems with the full tank but it was okay today. Tenth by tenth I got a three second gap, then I administered the race.

"That was so pleasing, it was beautiful, really beautiful. Usually, when you're up there in front on your own, the last laps are tough, but the taste of victory is hard to explain: I had shivers in those laps."

Prior to today's Jerez success, the former champion had not won since last September's Malaysian GP.

The five-race gap between victories was Rossi's longest 'losing streak' since his first MotoGP season in 2000 - a record that he dismissed after returning to the top step this afternoon.

"The winless streak hasn't been tough because since my last win in Malaysia I always went on the podium except at Valencia where I fell," Rossi said.

"Last year the races were a bit odd, first of all because we struggled a lot. (Later in the season) the objective was to catch back (Nicky) Hayden who looked to have difficulties so the most important thing was to score points without risking everything to win.

"So when you race like that the last races are a bit odd."

Rossi's Spanish GP win puts him back to the top of the championship standings, nine points clear of Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner.