MotoGP Title News
After achieving podium finishes in 13 out of 15 rounds, including seven wins, Jorge Lorenzo walked away from the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix with the 2010 MotoGP Championship.
Lorenzo, who is only the second Spaniard to win a GP title since Alex Criville in 1999, only needed a ninth-place finish or better at Sepang to clench the MotoGP title. The 23-year-old Fiat Yamaha M1 rider finished third at Sepang behind Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso, and his teammate and race-winner Valentino Rossi.
Jorge Lorenzo says: “This is a dream come true for me today, I can’t really believe it yet; I need five minutes on my own just to relax, enjoy the quiet and take in what I have done! This is something I have always wanted and something I’ve dreamed of my whole life, so it is the most incredible moment for me. It is difficult to find the words to thank everyone, I am just so happy, but I have to say thank you to Yamaha, my team and everyone who has made this happen.”
“I started very well today, I didn’t lose any positions but then Andrea and Valentino came past me and I wasn’t riding as well as I could have, so I didn’t want to push too much. Anyway I knew that winning the race wasn’t the most important thing this time. I had to just put myself on autopilot and get the points I needed. Now we can relax and enjoy the last three races of the championship, but first of all we are looking forward to celebrating tonight!”
Rossi, a nine-time world champion, has been teammates with Lorenzo for the last two years, and although the two aren’t the best of teammates, the Italian had some great words for Lorenzo, who took his debut title in the premier class.
Valentino Rossi says: “I want to say congratulations to Yamaha and to Jorge; he has been fast all season, at all tracks and in all conditions and he deserves to be the World Champion.”
Lorenzo, who has two titles in the former 250cc Class aboard an Aprilia, also received congratulations from his Yamaha team.
Masao Furusawa (Fiat Yamaha Executive Officer, Engineering Operations) says: “First of all, I want to congratulate Jorge Lorenzo for clinching the 2010 MotoGP World Championship title here at Sepang, with three rounds still remaining in the season.”
“As a member of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team, I am very proud to have had the pleasure of watching Jorge progress from Rookie of the Year in 2008, when he first moved up to MotoGP, to finishing second in the 2009 series to now becoming the 2010 MotoGP World Champion. In Japan last week Jorge signed a new two-year contract that will see him continue to ride for Yamaha in 2011 and 2012, and we hope to see him win the championship again in the two years to come.”
Lin Jarvis (Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing) says: Firstly let me say it gave me great satisfaction today to see a young athlete achieve his dream! I would like to congratulate Jorge on his excellent season, resulting in him winning his first MotoGP World Champion title. Today was a super result for the Fiat Yamaha Team, with Valentino winning the race and Jorge coming home safely in third spot, giving us two important victories at the same moment. The points haul today is also very important for the Team and Manufacturer Championships.”
With three rounds of the MotoGP season remaining, Lorenzo says he will not relax and still be seeking victories; Lorenzo says he wants to assist Yamaha in grabbing the 2010 Manufacturer’s Championship.
Jorge Lorenzo says: “The points haul today is also very important for the Team and Manufacturer Championships. I would also like to take this opportunity to say congratulations and a big thank you to all of our corporate and team staff who have worked so hard and to all of our sponsors, partners and the Yamaha fans around the world that have supported us on and off the track to bring us victory again this year; this is our 3rd MotoGP rider’s title in a row. Now that the first, and most important, title is ours we will try our best to win the next three races and hopefully in the process the Manufacturer and Team titles to complete another ‘triple crown’ year.”
And as for 2011, Lorenzo will be teammates with current Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies. The rookie will be taking Rossi’s position as VR 46 moves to the Ducati Team next year.
Spies also commented on Lorenzo’s title.
Ben Spies says: “I’d like to congratulate Jorge and Yamaha. Jorge has been fantastic all season and he definitely deserved to win the title. He hasn’t made a mistake and I’m really looking forward to working with him in 2011.”
