James Toseland and Danny Webb carried on where they left off in qualifying with brilliant performances where it mattered, in the races at the bwin.com Grand Prix of Portugal in Estoril this afternoon.
Toseland, making his first appearance at the 2.599 mile Estoril circuit on the Atlantic coast was seventh in a 28 lap hectic MotoGP encounter despite a bad start from the second row of the grid. Twenty seven year old Toseland after just three MotoGP races is fifth in the Championship, only 11 points behind World Champion Casey Stoner.
“It started to spit with rain when we came to the grid and I was slow for the first few laps which is probably down to a little bit of inexperience,” explained Toseland. “After those opening laps I was pleased because it was my first race in Estoril and after three races I’m fifth in the Championship. It’s not easy coming to tracks on which I’ve not ridden before but today showed what we can do.”
Toseland was involved in a tremendous battle with Frenchman Randy De Puniet who crashed out just before the finish.
Sixteen year old Kent teenager Webb made a brilliant start from the front row of the 125 cc grid, dropped back and then fought his way back to fifth which was his best ever grand prix finish.
It could have been ever better for British fans with 17 year old Bradley Smith making a fantastic start from the fourth row of the grid. He was lying third riding the Polaris World Aprilia when he crashed out in spectacular fashion. He was unhurt and admitted he was having to ride just a little bit too hard to stay with the leaders.
Fifteen year old Scott Redding ran off the track on his Estoril debut but rejoined the race won by Italian Simone Corsi to finish a creditable 21st.
To complete a good day for British riders Ulsterman Eugene Laverty scored his first 250 cc points of the season with a hard earned 15th place, riding the Blusens Aprilia.
Lorenzo – The New Rossi
He is 20 years old from Mallorca, a double 250cc World Champion who this afternoon won his first MotoGP race after securing three pole position starting in his first three races.
Jorge Lorenzo is the biggest thing to hit the MotoGP World Championship since the arrival of a certain Valentino Rossi eight years ago. The Fiat Yamaha rider rode brilliantly in the 28 lap race to fight off the challenge of his bitter rival Dani Pedrosa. It was not only his first MotoGP victory but he now shares the lead in the Championship with Pedrosa after three hectic encounters.
Five times Estoril winner Rossi could only watch from third place as the two Spaniards fought for the lead. However the seven times World Champion is third in the Championship 14 points adrift of Pedrosa after his second successive podium finish.
World Champion Casey Stoner made a bad start from the third row but battled back to sixth place on the Marlboro Ducati. The Australian is fourth in the Championship, seven points adrift of Rossi but both the World Champions now know that Lorenzo is on the charge.
Results:
1. Jorge LORENZO YAMAHA 45'53.089
2. Dani PEDROSA HONDA 45'54.906
3. Valentino ROSSI YAMAHA 46'05.812
4. Colin EDWARDS YAMAHA 46'10.312
5. John HOPKINS KAWASAKI 46'16.841
6. Casey STONER DUCATI 46'19.777
7. James TOSELAND YAMAHA 46'25.720
8. Chris VERMEULEN SUZUKI 46'29.471
Championship Standings:
1. LORENZO Jorge 61 points
2. PEDROSA Dani 61
3. ROSSI Valentino 47
4. STONER Casey 40
5. TOSELAND James 29
6. CAPIROSSI Loris 26
7. HOPKINS John 24
8 .EDWARDS Colin 22
