Jorge Lorenzo made it a fantastic home-race double podium for the Fiat Yamaha Team today, finishing second behind his team-mate Valentino Rossi at Misano. It was the rookie’s first podium since the team’s last one-two finish in Le Mans and it was a deserved one following the injuries that have plagued him since.
Lorenzo lost some time at the start when Dani Pedrosa passed him and then had to wait for Rossi to pass his Spanish compatriot before he could make his move, which he did on lap five. When Casey Stoner crashed out of the lead on lap eight, leaving Rossi in front, Lorenzo was elevated to second and he rode a strong race from then on, exerting constant pressure on his team-mate, who was unable to relax and had to keep pushing to keep the gap at about three seconds. Lorenzo was followed home by another Spaniard, Toni Elias, who crossed the lin e 8.54 seconds off in third.
The 21-year-old Mallorcan’s fifth podium of the season sees him consolidate his fourth place in the championship and his leading rookie status, whilst Rossi is now 75 points clear of Stoner at the top. There are five rounds remaining with the next one coming at Indianapolis in the USA in two week’s time.
Jorge Lorenzo Position: 2
Time: +3.163
“Seeing the party Valentino’s fans were making for him around the track today reminded me how much I want to start winning again, but as a start this second place is fantastic for us! I lost some ground at the early on but then I took my rhythm, passed Dani and started to push, and then I kept pushing until the end. To be one and two on the podium again, like in Le Mans, is wonderful and after four months of problems I am enjoying this moment very much – it’s perfect. Since the Brno test and with the improvements that Michelin have made here my confidence has being going up all the time and my riding style has improved as well, so I want to say thank you to them. I hope the situation is the same at the next races, then we can continue to be strong like this. Thanks to all of my team and congratulations to Valenti no and Toni.”
Daniele Romagnoli - Team Manager “It’s really great to be back on the podium after a long time and we are very happy for Jorge. We never lost confidence that he would come back to this level even though it has been very hard for him at times, but everyone has kept focused and here we are, so well done to all involved. Our Michelin tyres have worked much better here and this has made everything easier to achieve, it seems that the Brno test was a turning point and the improvement in the tyres has helped us to find a new set-up. Now we’re looking forward with confidence to the next races. Congratulations to Valentino and the other side of the garage for a great victory.”
Ambient temperature: 35 degrees
Track temperature: 48 degrees
Humidity: 29%
Results 1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 44'41.884
2. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team + 3.163 3. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team + 11.705
4. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda + 17.470
5. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki + 23.409
6. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha + 26.208
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 26.824
8. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 27.591
9. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro + 33.169
10. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha + 36.529
11. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team + 42.081
12. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 43.808
13. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing + 54.874
14. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing + 55.154
NOT CLASSIFIED Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 21 Lap
Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 27 Lap
Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 28 Lap
NOT STARTING Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda
Championship Standings 1. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 262
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro 187
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda 185
4. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 140 5. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) JiR Team Scot MotoGP 118
6. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki 110
7. Colin Edwards (USA) Tech 3 Yamaha 108
8. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini 87
9. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 86
10. James Toseland (GBR) Tech 3 Yamaha 85
11. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda 84
12. Toni Elias (SPA) Alice Team 82
13. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini 49
14. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro 48
15. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Alice Team 47
16. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP 40
17. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing 39
18. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing 36
19. Ben Spies (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 10
20. Jamie Hacking (USA) Kawasaki Racing Team 5
21. Tadyuki Okada (JPN) Repsol Honda Team 2
Misano:
Record Lap: V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2008, 1'34.904
Best Lap: C.Stoner (Ducati) 2008, 1'33.378
