Lorenzo out to finish with a bang in Valencia
Added on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo out to finish with a bang in Valencia
Jorge Lorenzo is another Spaniard looking to sign-off from the season in style on home tarmac as he pulls the curtain down on a season of so near, yet so far.
The Yamaha rider was part of a thrilling battle for the MotoGP championship with teammate Valentino Rossi, with races at Barcelona and Sachsenring proving to be amongst of the most memorable in MotoGP history, only for a series of crucial mistakes to cost the 22-year-old.
Successive crashes at Donington and Brno gave Rossi the edge in the championship and a crash later in the season at Phillip Island, coupled with Rossi’s podium at Sepang two weeks later, meant that Lorenzo had to settle for second in the championship.
But Lorenzo has won many plaudits this season and, having conceded the title, the Mallorcan is looking to end the season in style in Valencia.
“It is an amazing place to finish the championship, at home, with your fans,” he said. “I’ve never had a victory there and I know that it’s not one of the best tracks for Yamaha, but I am confident that I can try to change that and finish the championship in the best possible way.”
“The last two races haven’t been great for me and I really want to get over that. I only need one point to become ‘vice-champion’ and I would really like to do that with a podium or a win. That’s my aim in Valencia.
“My best race here was in 2005, when I finished in second place but I think my best memory was in 2006 when I won the championship there. 2009 has been an amazing year for me and for Yamaha and I am looking forward to celebrating with my fans at a home race.”
