Lorenzo leaps onto top step in Jerez

Added on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

Jorge Lorenzo overcame the odds, and a thrilling race, to take the spoils in Jerez this afternoon, much to the delight of the Spanish crowd.

As the race got underway pole sitter Dani Pedrosa made a good start to immediately launch into the lead. Behind, Valentino Rossi, after struggling with an injured shoulder all weekend, rocketed away from fourth on the grid to secure second place from the off, flying passed teammate Lorenzo and Casey Stoner to get there. Nicky Hayden also latched onto a strong start, following the top two through into third.

With the top two soon disappearing into the distance, Hayden lead the way of the pursuers. Just inches behind Lorenzo and Stoner entered their own battle, with both eager to make up ground on their slow starts, with Colin Edwards keeping a close eye on things just behind.

Towards the mid-field, Andrea Dovizioso, Marco Melandri and Mika Kallio all progressed from their starting positions, to be in the thick of the action as the opening laps developed.

By the third lap the drama started to set in, with Loris Capirossi and his Rizla Suzuki bike being the first victims. Shortly afterwards Aleix Espargaro came into the pits, however was able to rejoin the race, but finished three laps down. Next to fall foul was Ben Spies, who rode into his Yamaha garage and out of the race due to a front tyre problem, despite enjoying a tough battle with teammate Edwards. Spies was expecting to be stronger towards the end of the race when the tyres were warmer, however an early retirement meant he wouldn’t find out.

Determined to find a way back to the front, Lorenzo was back on form and fighting his way through, firstly passing Stoner for fourth and then Hayden for third.

As the laps began to count down Lorenzo had soon clawed back the gap to Pedrosa and Rossi and was reeling them in. After struggling with a shoulder injury all weekend, reigning champion Rossi was starting to succomb to the pain. His FIAT Yamaha teammate Lorenzo was soon right on his tail, and slipped passed the Italian with just six laps remaining.

As the race was coming to an end the scrap at the front really began to hot up. It was the battle of the Spaniards in front of their home crowd, with Lorenzo decreasing the 2.018 second gap to leader Pedrosa with five laps to go.

Now onto their final lap Lorenzo saw his chance and made a move on Pedrosa, diving down the inside of the Repsol Honda rider for the lead just seconds before the chequered flag. Despite riding in pain, Rossi was able to hold onto the top two, and was still in touch with them at the end, settling for a podium finish in third.

With just 1.170 seconds separating the top three it was definitely a thriller right to the end. Elsewhere in the field, Hayden managed to finish fourth, just ahead of Ducati teammate Stoner, with the latter not having the best of times. Meanwhile, after enjoying a five-way fight with Marco Melandri, Randy De Puniet, Marco Simoncelli and Colin Edwards throughout the twenty seven laps, Kallio powered through from the back of the grid to take seventh at the flag. A storming ride by the Pramac Racing rider. Dovizioso separated the Ducati riders, finishing just between Stoner and Kallio in sixth.

Commenting on his first win of the season, Lorenzo told MotoGP.com: “It has always been one of my dreams to win a MotoGP race in Spain and this was like a movie, everything that could possibly happen did! This has been an amazing day, I can’t believe I’ve achieved this in front of all the Spanish fans at this magical place.”

The next round of the MotoGP championship is at the infamous Le Mans circuit on the 22-23rd May.

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