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MotoGP Motegi Sunday: MotoGP
April 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under 2010 Race Calendar
Jorge Lorenzo emerged victorious from a thrilling Polini Grand Prix of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi, the second win of his MotoGP career and a result that retained his 100% podium record in the 2009 season.
The Fiat Yamaha rider took little time in taking the reigns of the race, having started from the front row and showed no fear when faced with the likes of Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi in front of him. However, despite a relatively comfortable advantage, Lorenzo was never quite able to pull clear of his rivals as the action heated up. He held on to cross the line with a gap of less than two seconds between him and second placed teammate Rossi.
Lorenzo moves up into first place in the overall classification, for the second time in his MotoGP career. The battle for second place in the race was MotoGP at its finest, as Repsol Honda man Pedrosa exchanged overtaking moves with Rossi in the middle third of the 24 laps. Pedrosa ultimately took third, having had a storming start from the fourth row of the grid.
Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner was unable to break away as he had done in Qatar, finishing fourth and keeping up the pressure in the general standings. Andrea Dovizioso completed a fine day for Repsol Honda in fifth, ahead of Marco Melandri, Loris Capirossi, Mika Kallio, James Toseland and Chris Vermeulen.
Home rider Yuki Takahashi crashed out of the race in a collision with Nicky Hayden on the second lap.
250cc
Mapfre Aspar rider Álvaro Bautista rode a masterful race to deny Hiroshi Aoyama home glory in the 250cc contest, taking his first win of the year.
Bautista heaped the pressure on Scot Racing rider Aoyama for ten tough laps before passing the two-time Motegi racewinner with six laps to go and creating a gap between the two.
Aoyama took second place for his first podium of the year, and now closely trails new series leader Bautista by one point in the overall standings. Team Toth’s Mattia Pasini completed the podium, bouncing back from a heavy Friday crash and claiming his first points of the year.
Reigning World Champion and 2008 racewinner Marco Simoncelli had poorer fortune in the race. The poleman was leading comfortably before bobbling on the chicane and puncturing his front tyre. He came into the pits for a change of rubber, but could only claim 17th as his rivals fought out the rest of the race at the front of the field.
125cc
Andrea Iannone took his second victory in as many races in the 125cc class, a result decided as much by tyre choice as by grid positions and bike performance.
Taking the lead from the second lap, Danny Webb valiantly held on at the front despite rapidly losing tyre life, as the trailing pack closed in. Eight laps before the chequered flag Julián Simón caught up with the Briton, and the race between the riders on slick tyres was on.
Ongetta Team I.S.P.A rider Iannone claimed full points this time around, and maintains the lead in the overall standings.
Simón once again played the bridesmaid, whilst Derbi rider Espargaró completed the podium in the second race of 2009.
The MotoGP paddock reconvenes in a week’s time for the Gran Premio bwin.co de España, which takes place on May 3rd at the Circuito de Jerez.
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