Lorenzo aiming for Moto GP hat trick

Added on Friday, July 2nd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

All eyes will be on Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo this Sunday at the Catalunya Grand Prix, as he aims to score a hat trick with his third successive win, in as many races.

The 23-year-old Spaniard has already won the British and Netherlands race and is hoping not to see a repeat of last year’s championship which saw his teammate, Valentino Rossi , riding to victory just 95/1000s of a second faster than Lorenzo.

Lorenzo is currently the championship leader and is 47 points ahead of his nearest contender, Dani Pedrosa and 51 points ahead of currently third place rider Andrea Dovizioso – both Honda riders.

Contrary to last year’s Grand Prix Rossi is 79 points back from Lorenzo’s lead and is unlikely to make a comeback in the championship following a compound fracture to his tibia, after taking a tumble in the Italian Grand Prix.

Lorenzo needs 25 points for a win this season which he says “allows us to remain calm” and he has been quoted as saying that this year’s championship “will be won this year on consistency”

Lorenzo, Rossi and Pedrosa are the only riders to have won a race this season but other riders are still hopeful to build on their progress in the championship. Pedrosa has a good record at the Catalunya track, being the only other rider other than Rossi to have one in all three classes at the track.

Pedrosa said: “With my family and friends living only 20km from the circuit, and all coming this weekend to support me, this is an important race for me,”

Australian rider Casey Stoner is currently in seventh place with his Ducati but is hoping that Catalunya will give him the chance to build on his podium finish in the Dutch Grand Prix.

Stoner said: “I hope we can get around the issues we usually have there and be competitive because gradually we are getting better. But we need to start picking up the results to show for it. It would be nice to start doing that at Catalunya.”

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