MotoGP
8 November 2009

MotoGP news

Lorenzo lost podium finish with crash

Lorenzo lost podium finish with crash

03 May 2009 / Results / Photos

After his dazzling pole position Jorge Lorenzo was fully expecting to challenge for the win but the higher track temperature on Sunday and a crash saw the Spaniard finish without points and hand the championship lead to team-mate Valentino Rossi. 

The Mallorcan, who turns 22 tomorrow, spent most of the race in a lonely fourth position but in the final stages began to close on Stoner and looked like he might have a podium chance. With the gap down to under half a second the excitement began to build in the 99 side of the garage but with just four laps to go he lost the front and went down, emerging unhurt from the gravel trap but with damage to his foot peg and throttle meaning there was no chance to finish the race.

"I am very sad, because I was so fast all weekend and on pole position," Lorenzo said. "Unfortunately today the temperature meant that our setting did not work in the same way and at the moment we don't understand why. This is really more disappointing than the actual crash.

"Fourth position wouldn't have been so bad but when you're in front of your fans, at home with so much adrenalin on the bike of course you try to do the maximum. I could see that the podium was possible and maybe the right thing would have been to go more gently and not push so hard in that moment, but I always want to do my best. Then I made a mistake and I threw all my good work away. We have to try to forget this and wake up feeling positive tomorrow because Le Mans is near. I'm sorry to all the fans who came to see me, to my team, family and to everybody!"


more news


Homepage



Photo gallery

more pictures