Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow duke it out at the Island.

Nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi was a fan of the flag-to-flag MotoGP race at the Tissot Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Sunday.

Tyre degradation forced organisers to host the event with pit stops mid-race, where riders would switch to their spare bikes within a 10-lap window during the 19-lap affair.

Rossi enjoyed yet another intense race long battle with rivals Cal Crutchlow and Alvaro Bautista. The three swapping positions in the fight for the last podium spot throughout the first ten laps and again in the following nine.

Rossi completed a super-fast pit stop, beating both out to gain two positions. As one of the most successful MotoGP riders of the modern era in Phillip Island it was never going to be easy for them to beat him, and they couldn’t. The Italian claimed third at the line to make it another double Yamaha podium.

“At the end the result was good, I’m so happy to be on the podium here at Phillip Island because it’s always a great pleasure and a great atmosphere,” Rossi commented.

“I tried to give the maximum, the race was very thrilling and I enjoyed it very much, especially because with the team we were able to do a very good job in the pit and gain two positions.

“I had a great battle with Cal, when I understood it was for the podium I tried to give the maximum. In the last half of the lap it started to rain which was very scary but at the end it was okay and a good result. We still need to work and improve to be faster for the next race.”

Rossi is now secure in fourth position on 214 points, 35 ahead of Crutchlow in fifth.