On the afternoon of Oct. 21, Daijiro Kato screeched across the finish line on his 250cc Honda to win the Malaysian Grand Prix -- and with it his first World Motorcycle Road Racing Champion's crown.

Speaking barely an hour later, Japan's fifth-ever motorbike GP world titleholder said: "I didn't have any tension this morning. I slept well and I felt the same as usual. During the race, everything was normal, only it was very hot -- around 38 degrees -- so I had to concentrate hard till the end.

"Now, of course, I am happy, but I'm the same person I was this morning."