April 26, 2009

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo led home a Yamaha one-two finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, finishing ahead of reigning world champion Valentino Rossi.

The win was the 2008 rookie of the year’s second MotoGP win and his first ever win in any class at the Motegi Circuit.

Rossi, also runner-up in the season opener in Qatar two weeks ago, took an early advantage after starting on pole. But Lorenzo was able to pass the Italian and finish 1.304 seconds ahead. Honda's Dani Pedrosa finished in third, a further 3.763 seconds back.

"It was a difficult race because I didn't make a good start," said Lorenzo, whose first MotoGP victory came in Portugal a year ago.

"I passed Rossi and he followed me very hard. I had to ride as fast as I could to grab the victory."

Qatar race winner and 2007 world champion Casey Stoner re-grouped from a bad start, where he lost four places in the opening lap, to storm home to finish fourth.

Australia's other rider in the top class, Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen finished in 10th position.

Rossi said his second place was very important for the overall MotoGP championship.

"I think this championship will become very interesting because four riders are ready to battle for the win at the end."

"It was a great race, long and difficult," Rossi said. "In the last part of the race, I was able to take my pace and take my line. I made a good lap time and came back. But Lorenzo was too far."

The win put Lorenzo, in only his second year of MotoGP, at the top of the 2009 MotoGP rankings with 41 points, one point ahead of Rossi and three ahead of Stoner.

Rossi started on pole after rain washed out qualifying and he clocked the fastest time in free practice on Friday. The Italian led the pack around the first corner, with Stoner (who was second on the grid), dropping to sixth.

Lorenzo overtook Rossi on the ninth lap, widening his lead to more than a second after 15 laps and two seconds after 17. Stoner meanwhile was trapped behind Pedrosa and Italian Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso.

Pedrosa overtook Rossi on the 18th lap but the Italian quickly regained the second spot on the next lap. Stoner passed Dovizioso to claim the fourth spot in the next-to-last of the 24 laps.

Stoner said he heard a lot of chatter from the front brakes on the warm-up lap and "I wasn't confident over the first five or six laps."

"I spent too much time battling to get past," said the 23-year-old. "When I got close to the front, it was too late, unfortunately."


Motegi MotoGP Results

1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP-Yamaha) 43:47.238
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA-Yamaha) +1.304sec
3. Dani Pedrosa (ESP-Honda) +3.763
4. Casey Stoner (AUS-Ducati) +5.691
5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA-Honda) +9.207
6. Marco Melandri (ITA-Kawasaki) +30.555
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA-Suzuki) +32.756
8. Mika Kallio (FIN-Ducati) +39.416
9. James Toseland (GBR-Yamaha) +43.106
10. Chris Vermeulen (AUS-Suzuki) +43.245


2009 MotoGP Standings

1. Jorge Lorenzo (ESP) 41
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) 40
3. Casey Stoner (AUS) 38
4. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) 22
5. Dani Pedrosa (ESP) 21
6. Colin Edwards (USA) 17
7. Mika Kallio (FIN) 16
8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) 15
9. Alex de Angelis (SMR) 13
10. Marco Melandri (ITA) 12