Lorenzo vs. Rossi
The MotoGP championship leaders are only 18 points apart. As Jorge Lorenzo was untouchable in Portugal last weekend and he took his stunning fourth win of the season. Now just 16-months on from his maiden MotoGP victory at this same track, Lorenzo seems to be finding his groove. Lorenzo seems to have given up on his high-side "Lunar Landings" in favorite of saving it for after the race.
The vibrant 22-year-old Jorge Lorenzo had looked invincible all weekend and in the race he raced off from pole for the 35th time in his career, reaching turn one in second place but regaining the lead a couple of corners later. Jorge Lorenzo’s Fiat Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi had a disappointing day and came home a distant fourth, while the Fiat Yamaha crew secured the Teams’ Championship title, the first leg of the ‘triple crown’.
Wearing special ‘astronaut’ leathers and helmet to commemorate the Lunar Landing and match the one-off white ‘Fiat Punto Evo’ livery on his YZR-M1, the Mallorcan was unchallenged from then on and stretched his lead until the end, finishing a commanding 6.294 seconds clear of the resurrected Casey Stoner to take his 26th career win.
Masahiko Nakajima Speaks… Fiat Yamaha Team Director
"Today we have achieved the first objective of our season – the Fiat Yamaha Team becoming 2009 Teams’ Champion. I would like to thank our riders, our team staff and YMC MotoGP Group Engineers for their invaluable support, which has allowed us to achieve this great result. My appreciation also goes to our sponsors and technical partners, because their contribution has been crucial for Yamaha and for our Factory Team. We look forward to working with all of them in the future and to being able to repay their support with many more victories".
Jorge Lorenzo Speaks… (Winner with a time of 45’35.522)
"What a day! I’m so happy to win here again in the same track where I won my first MotoGP race last year. I worked so hard in the break on my fitness with my father and maybe that’s given me a little bit of extra speed, I certainly felt so strong this weekend and it is great to win like this after being top in every session as well. I got a good start and it took me just a couple of corners to get past Dani and take the lead, but I honestly didn’t expect to be unchallenged from then on or to finish with such a big gap. This is a good track for me but I am fast more or less everywhere now. The championship is closer now; it’s still not easy but we have nothing to lose! I’m proud that we have won the Team Title and I want to say thanks and congratulations to everyone. I liked my leathers and helmet a lot this weekend and I wanted to celebrate Neil Armstong and his landing on the moon so this is why I made this ‘moonwalk show’ after the race!"
Rossi had struggled to match his Jorge Lorenzo’s pace all weekend and a problem with rear grip plagued him today and compounded his difficulties. He dropped to fourth on the first lap after starting from second and was unable to make any headway into the gap to Stoner and Pedrosa, eventually coming home some 13 seconds behind the Lorenzo. It was Rossi’s 100th start for Yamaha, from which he has won an incredible 43 times.
Yamaha are now assured of one of their riders being crowned World Champion but with Valentino Rossi’s lead now cut to 18 points from Jorge Lorenzo in second, the tension is mounting as to which one it will be. MotoGP for the double-header in Australia and Malaysia.
Race Results: MotoGP Estoril
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team
45’35.522
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team
+ 6.294
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda
+ 9.889
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team
+ 23.428
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3
+ 32.652
6. Toni Elias (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini
+ 35.709
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda
+ 35.723
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team
+ 38.830
9. James Toseland (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3
+ 44.093
10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
+ 52.863
11. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP
+ 55.698
12. Marco Melandri (ITA) Hayate Racing Team
+ 1’04.515
13. Niccolo Canepa (ITA) Pramac Racing
+ 1’04.538
14. Gabor Talmacsi (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP
+ 1’27.299
NOT CLASSIFIED
Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
8 Lap
Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini
20 Lap
Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team
23 Lap
MotoGP Championship Standings
1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team
250
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team
232
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda
173
4. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team
170
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda
142
6. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3
134
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
97
8. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP
93
9. Marco Melandri (ITA) Hayate Racing Team
91
10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
90
11. Toni Elias (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini
90
12. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini
88
13. James Toseland (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3
85
14. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team
81
15. Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team
51
16. Niccolo Canepa (ITA) Pramac Racing
38
17. Gabor Talmacsi (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP
14
18. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Grupo Francisco Hernando
12
19. Yuki Takahashi (JPN) Scot Racing Team
9
20. Alex Espagaro (SPA) Pramac Racing
8
Estoril: Record Lap
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2008, 1’37.404
Estoril: Best Lap
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2008, 1’35.715
