MotoGP News
Besides taking his first premier-class MotoGP Championship this year, Jorge Lorenzo also broke many records during his feat of conquering the world’s finest motorcycle racing circuits.
Once the MotoGP season wrapped up, the 23-year-old Fiat Yamaha rider had been on the podium 16 times out of 18 races, which included an impressive nine wins. And this amounted to 383 points, the most a rider has ever achieved during a single MotoGP season.
On Friday, an official MotoGP video was released, featuring an interview with the Spanish champion Lorenzo. In the video, Lorenzo discusses the huge moments in the 2010 MotoGP season, and also his plans to defend the title in 2011.
After his then teammate Valentino Rossi won the opening round in Qatar, many speculated almost immediately that the Italian was en route to his 10th World Title.
But the following round at Jerez, Rossi was a bit on the weak side due to a motocross training accident. And as Rossi’s season began to descend due to the shoulder injury from the MX accident, and then breaking his leg at Mugello, Lorenzo’s season began to ascend quickly ahead.
The season truly began Lorenzo took Round 2 in Jerez, which gave him his first premier-class MotoGP victory in his native country.
Jorge Lorenzo says: "We were highly motivated when we got to Jerez but the race didn’t start in the best manner, as I dropped to fourth or fifth. But then suddenly my mind just changed and I started to go much quicker, recovering seconds on the leaders. My adrenaline was so high and I wanted the win whatever happened. I took risks and fortunately it happened."
Then came another MotoGP milestone for Lorenzo: three consecutive wins at Silverstone, Assen and Catalunya.
Jorge Lorenzo says: "After (second place at) Mugello I won three in a row and took a big points advantage. At this moment we seemed unbeatable, but it was only a question of time before our rivals would catch us. It wasn’t easy to keep calm and be patient and avoid making mistakes."
"At some points the other bikes, especially Honda, were very strong and in these races the only thing I could do was finish on the podium, even fourth, and that’s what I did."
But there was much more to do, and after Lorenzo took the final podium spot at Round 15 of the 2010 MotoGP Championship in Sepang, his lifelong dream came true; he had clinched the title with three rounds to go.
Jorge Lornezo says: "I didn’t think I’d be nervous when I got to Sepang, but when the time came I was more nervous than ever. It was difficult to handle the situation. At the moment I became Champion I didn’t feel anything because I’d imagined it so many times, but after a matter of hours I started to enjoy my moment and become fully conscious that I was World Champion."
And Lorenzo wants to remain MotoGP champion, so he has much work to do in 2011.
Jorge Lorenzo says: "In terms of concentration and focus it will be difficult, but I think my mind will be at the same level, or this is what I’ll try to do. To get the same amount of points (383) the same number of victories, it’s going to be extremely hard of course, but you never know. It could happen like this again, or it could be a disaster of a season. This is the great thing about sport: you never know what will happen!"
Lorenzo’s latest feat was during the traditional post-season tests at Valencia. Lorenzo was fastest on day one, and second fastest on day two behind Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner. But Lorenzo’s pace of 1:32.012 on the first day would remain quickest out of both days.
Lorenzo’s former teammate Rossi has joined the Ducati team, leaving Lorenzo the leader of the factory Yamaha team. His teammate for 2011 will be the American sensation Ben Spies, who recently reported he will learn much from his championship-winning partner.
The 2011 MotoGP Championship kicks off in February, when the first official tests will be held at Sepang.
