Jorge Lorenzo’s wire-to-wire win at Estoril doesn’t put him in the same class as Valentino Rossi, but it does certify him as one of the few riders who can dominate an entire MotoGP weekend. Since Rossi started racing in the top class back in 2000 the only other rider who’s been able to do that on a consistent basis has been Casey Stoner. Speaking of Stoner, contrary to the reports of his demise the Aussie finished second after a two month absence due to a stamina sapping illness, "It is great to be competitive again and to stay that way right to the end of the race. I maybe could have been faster over the opening few laps, but I made a little mistake which caused my foot to slip off the peg. It broke the footrest support and it was moving around in all the right-handers, so my foot was slipping off. As the laps went by I was able to alter the footpeg position a little, but I wasn't able to go any faster. Obviously Jorge was too fast for us today”.Lorenzo’s win moved him to within eighteen points of Rossi who struggled to finish fourth, "It was a very difficult race for me. I was never able to be fast because I did not have enough grip in the rear and our tire did not work well, but I think it was more a problem of setting. After a few laps I was in great difficulties, and I immediately understood that this was not going to be "our" race.” Pedrosa finished third in the race and he’s third in the championship, but Stoner is only three points behind the Spaniard.
The battle that everyone will be watching is the title fight between the two Yamaha teammates. Rossi struggled at Estoril, and Lorenzo had the perfect weekend at the track where he won his first MotoGP race last year. In the competitive world of MotoGP you’re only as good as your last race, but a look at the last six gives some perspective:
Last six races:
Rossi – 3 wins, 4th, 5th, retirement (99 pts)
Lorenzo – 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 retirements (90 pts)
Fairly close, but the second retirement hurt Lorenzo. A look back at the last three races of 2008 shows a marked difference between the two riders results:
2008 Results (Phillip Island, Sepang, Valencia):
Rossi – 2nd, 1st, 3rd (61 pts)
Lorenzo – 4th, retirement, 8th (21 pts)
Prior results can be an indicator of future performance, but at this point in the season the two riders are about even. It seems more than likely that Lorenzo will improve on last year’s performance in the final three races. The new factor thrown into the equation is the return of Casey Stoner. Both Rossi and Lorenzo will be fighting for points with Pedrosa and Stoner who will be going for wins since they can’t win the championship. The mountain that Lorenzo will have to climb is Rossi’s eighteen point lead.
