First win for Lorenzo

From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Jorge Lorenzo fulfilled his immense promise Sunday by winning the Portuguese Grand Prix from pole for his first career MotoGP victory.

Lorenzo, from Spain, has started on pole for each of the three races this season on his Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Michelin. But he finally converted that qualifying speed into the top step of the podium in shifting weather conditions at Estoril.

Dani Pedrosa, from Spain, finished second on his Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin, 1.817 seconds behind Lorenzo. Five-time MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was third on the Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha/Bridgestone, 12.723 seconds behind his winning teammate.

With the victory, Lorenzo pulled into a tie with bitter rival Pedrosa atop the series standings with 61 points. Rossi is third with 47.

“I feel like I’m in heaven,” Lorenzo said. “I can’t believe it, and it’s really impossible for me to describe my feelings. To be here after just three races and at the top of the championship, as well, is something that I could never have even dreamed of.”

Two-time 250cc World Champion Lorenzo pulled off his first MotoGP victory in powerful style, completing a weekend clean sweep of pole position, fastest race lap and race win.

But the victory was far from a romp. Rossi passed Lorenzo for the lead on lap 3 of the 28-lap race. Pedrosa then seized second from Lorenzo on lap 11. Lorenzo unleashed his considerable speed and talent on lap 13, passing Pedrosa for second in Turn 1 and then making a bold pass of Rossi for the lead at the chicane later that lap. Lorenzo never trailed thereafter.

Colin Edwards finished fourth on his Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha/Michelin, while fellow American John Hopkins rounded out the top five on his Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki/Bridgestone.

It was Edwards’ best finish since he also placed fourth in the Grand Prix of Germany last July 15. Hopkins also recorded his best finish of the season, his first with Kawasaki.

2006 World Champion Nicky Hayden finished 17th after crashing on lap 17 while running fourth on his Repsol Honda Team Honda/Michelin. American Hayden started fourth but dropped to seventh. But he started to pick off riders and chipped away time at the lead trio of Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Rossi before falling.

“You know, when you push hard, you make mistakes,” Hayden said. “It’s not a parade; you can’t just cruise around.”

The next race is the Grand Prix of China on May 4 at Shanghai. The inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP is Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

RESULTS
ESTORIL, Portugal ­ Results of the 28-lap Grand Prix of Portugal MotoGP race, with position, rider, country, motorcycle/tire, time behind winner:
1. Jorge Lorenzo Spain Yamaha/Michelin
2. Dani Pedrosa Spain Honda/Michelin +1.817 seconds
3. Valentino Rossi Italy Yamaha/Bridgestone +12.723
4. Colin Edwards United States Yamaha/Michelin +17.223
5. John Hopkins United States Kawasaki/Bridgestone +23.752
6. Casey Stoner Australia Ducati/Bridgestone +26.688
7. James Toseland Great Britain Yamaha/Michelin +32.631
8. Chris Vermeulen Australia Suzuki/Bridgestone +36.382
9. Loris Capirossi Italy Suzuki/Bridgestone +38.268
10. Shinya Nakano Japan Honda/Bridgestone +39.476
11. Alex De Angelis San Marino Honda/Bridgestone +1:01.306
12. Toni Elias Spain Ducati/Bridgestone +1:03.867
13. Marco Melandri Italy Ducati/Bridgestone +1:09.525
14. Sylvain Guintoli France Ducati/Bridgestone +1:09.634
15. Randy De Puniet France Honda/Michelin +1:11.542
16. Anthony West Australia Kawasaki/Bridgestone +1:23.629
17. Nicky Hayden United States Honda/Michelin +12 laps
18. Andrea Dovizioso Italy Honda/Michelin +13 laps
Fastest lap: Lorenzo, 1:37.404, Lap 18
Pole lap: Lorenzo, 1:35.715

POINTS
1. Lorenzo 61, 1. Pedrosa 61, 3. Rossi 47, 4. Stoner 40, 5. Toseland 29, 6. Capirossi 26, 7. Hopkins 24, 8. Edwards 22, 9. Dovizioso 21, 10. Hayden 19