Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo's route to MotoGP glory has been paved with
record-breaking achievements, and first began with an encounter
with minicross competitions aged just three. Lorenzo competed in
this format in addition to trial, minimoto and junior motocross in
his native Mallorca over the next few years, then followed up a
50cc Copa Aprilia title by entering the Spanish Championship with
special permission, aged just thirteen.
Setting a record unlikely to ever be broken, Lorenzo
subsequently became the youngest ever rider to enter a World
Championship race. Turning fifteen - the minimum age for Grand Prix
participation back then - on the second day of practice for the
2002 Spanish race at Jerez, he made his debut onboard a Derbi 125cc
at a track where he would enjoy much success over the next few
years.
In just his second season he took his first Grand Prix victory
at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where his impressive "round the
outside" overtaking manoeuvre on Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa won
him the nickname "Por Fuera". In 2004 he sealed a further three
triumphs, before making the move up to the 250cc category a year
later and taking four poles and six podiums in his maiden
season.
2006 was to be the coming-of-age year for the Mallorcan, who
switched to Aprilia machinery and immediately became the favourite
for the World Championship. He justified the hype with an
impressive eight victories, equalling the pole position record in
the process with ten, and lifting the title in an emotional final
race of the year at Valencia.
Another dominant year in 2007 saw Lorenzo retaining the
quarter-litre title, with all nine of his victories coming from
pole. At just twenty years old, he was a two-time 250cc World
Champion and took on his biggest challenge to date by signing for
the Yamaha factory team in MotoGP alongside Valentino Rossi.
Lorenzo made an immediate impact in the premier class with a
stunning first five races. He took pole on his debut - becoming the
first man to do so since Max Biaggi ten years previously - and
finished second in an astounding performance in Qatar. He followed
up the feat with pole at the next two races, becoming the first
rider to go 'three from three' in his rookie season and turning
both top spots into podium finishes.
Unfortunately his debut MotoGP season in 2008 was also marred by
a few big crashes and injuries, including two broken ankles in
China that eventually forced the debutant out of action for his
home race in Catalunya. However he regained his fitness and
confidence in the latter part of the season, and picked up the pace
to finish fourth overall and become Rookie of the Year.
Lorenzo went from strength to strength last year, pushing his
colleague and fierce rival Rossi all the way for the title. Their
battle at Catalunya was a season highlight, and Lorenzo picked up
four wins as part of a 12-podium haul for the year, with five pole
positions as well. Ultimately he was unable to wrest the title from
Rossi's grip, but his challenge was becoming ever stronger.
2010 has seen Lorenzo's star rise even further, and he was
finally able to shake off the 'inconsistent' tag by scoring podium
finishes in the first twelve races of the season, winning seven of
them in the process. He has taken pole on six occasions this
season, and qualified on the front row of the grid for every race
except one. Still aged just 23, he becomes only the second World
Champion from Spain in the premier class after Alex Crivillé, and
having signed with the factory Yamaha team for two more seasons is
a guarantee to be challenging for more honours in the years to
come.
Title-winning statistics for Jorge Lorenzo:
- Jorge Lorenzo becomes the second Spanish rider to win the
MotoGP world title - the other was Alex Crivillé in 1999.
- He is the first Spanish rider to win world titles in both the
250cc class and premier class.
- Lorenzo has finished in the top four at the first 15 races of
the year on his way to taking the world title.
- At the age of 23 years 159 days he is the sixth youngest rider
of all-time to win the premier class title, after Freddie Spencer,
Casey Stoner, Mike Hailwood, John Surtees and Valentino Rossi.
- He is the third youngest rider to have won world titles in
both the 250cc and premier class, after Mike Hailwood and Valentino
Rossi.
- During 2010, Jorge Lorenzo became only the fourth rider in the
62-year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing to finish on the
podium in the premier class at the opening twelve GP races of the
year.
source
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2010/lorenzo+world+champion+2010