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Usain Bolt stormed to World 200m gold in the third fastest time of his life to put the nightmare of his 100m disqualification behind him.

Bolt exploded from the blocks six days after producing that famous false start before stretching away down the home straight to win in 19.40 seconds.

USA's Walter Dix took silver in 19.70 secs with France's Christophe Lemaitre destroying his personal best to take bronze in 19.80 secs.

"I made a mistake but I came back to show the world that I'm still the best," said a beaming Bolt.

"I'm not a legend yet. I'm on my way, but I've got to go to London and blow people's minds, to go to the Olympics and do something extraordinary."

Lemaitre's time equalled the fastest ever for third in a World final, but he was barely within shouting distance of the reigning champion.

After the shambles of the 100m final some had speculated that the charismatic Bolt might tone down his antics before the gun.

There were the same cartoonish charades as the athletes were called to their blocks, although the Jamaican's reaction time of 0.193 secs - the slowest in the field - indicates that he was taking no chances of a red-card repeat.

Going hard from lane three, Bolt was on the shoulder of Dix in lane four before the bend had fully unwound and, grimacing with effort, pulled away as Lemaitre came past Jaysuma Saidy Ndure with a late surge of his own.

Bolt becomes the first man since Calvin Smith in 1987 to retain a 200m World title.

"Lane three was a bit tight for me," said the Olympic champion and world record holder. "I always wish to run in an outside lane. I didn't run a perfect corner. If I'd run a good corner I could have come in the straight and done much better. But I'm happy."

Asked if he was under pressure following the 100m, Bolt added: "It wasn't really big pressure. I was a little bit nervous. I'm always nervous for the 200, I think because it's my favourite event and I love doing it so much.

"But for me the start wasn't a pressure because all I had to do was sit and wait. And that was it."

Dix, who was 0.30 seconds adrift in a season's best, remained bullish despite the margin of his defeat.

The American told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 5 live: "I thought I got real close. I thought the stagger really helped him, but hopefully I'll have him next year - I'm going to go away and make sure I have all the weapons I need.

"I'm closing in. This time it was only three-tenths of a second."

Bolt's display delighted the Daegu crowd, with thousands of fans staying behind well after the night's entertainment had finished to scream and wave at the Jamaican as he went through an endless series of television interviews by the finish line.

He has the chance to add another gold in Sunday evening's 4x100m relay, and will go to next summer's Olympics as red-hot favourite to retain the title he won in record-breaking fashion in Beijing.