Jorge Lorenzo’s journey to his two MotoGP™ premier class titles began
at the age of three when he entered in minicross competitions in his
native Mallorca, followed by junior motocross and a 50cc Copa Aprilia
title in the Spanish Championship – an entry he was only granted with
special permission. 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 on board 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 in
2009, pushing his then 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 saw 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
took pole on six occasions that season, and qualified on the front row
of the grid for every race except one. Still aged just 23, he become
only the second World Champion from Spain in the premier class after
Alex Crivillé. 2011 saw the Mallorcan face a new foe in the form of a
rejuvenated Casey Stoner on board his Repsol Honda, which proved to be a
near unbeatable combination. Yet despite a Yamaha that looked to be
lacking in power, he fought his way to three wins and ten podiums, and
managed to finish the season in second, despite missing the final three
races due to a bad finger injury.
With the switch to 1000cc at the start of 2012 Lorenzo and his Yamaha
made a terrific start by winning the opening round in Qatar after a hard
fought battle with the Repsol Hondas. From that point on the Spaniard
went on to take five further wins and ten second-places, only once
failing to finish a race after being taken out by Álvaro Bautista in
Assen. The race at Phillip Island proved a dramatic one as his main
rival Dani Pedrosa crashed out early on, with Lorenzo needing only a
three-point finish or more to clinch the title. He however didn’t hold
back and climbed on the podium once more to take his second
premier-class title.
Jorge Lorenzo facts:
Lorenzo is the first Spanish rider to win the premier-class world title more than once.
He has finished either first or second at every race that he has
finished during 2012. The only occasion this year when he has failed to
finish either first or second was when he was knocked off by Álvaro
Bautista at the first corner of the Dutch TT.
Throughout the 2012 season only two riders have finished in front of Lorenzo – Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner.
He becomes just the third rider in the 64-year history of Grand Prix
racing to win more than a single world title in both the
intermediate-class and premier-class of Grand Prix racing. The only
other riders to have achieved this are Mike Hailwood and Phil Read.
Biography
Birth date: 04/05/1987
Birth place: Palma de Mallorca
First Grand Prix: SPA – 2002 – 125cc
First Pole Position: MAL – 2003 – 125cc
First Podium: RIO – 2003 – 125cc
First GP Victory: RIO – 2003 – 125cc
Grand Prix Starts: 178
Grand Prix Victories: 44
Podiums: 98
Pole Positions: 51
Race Fastest Lap: 23
World Championship Wins: 2 x 250cc, 2 x MotoGP
MotoGP Career:
2002: 125cc World Championship – 21
st position on Derbi, 14 starts, 21 points
2003: 125cc World Championship – 12
th position on Derbi, 16 starts, 79 points
2004: 125cc World Championship – 4
th position on Derbi, 16 starts, 179 points
2005: 250cc World Championship – 5
th position on Honda, 15 starts, 167 points
2006: 250cc World Championship – 1
st position on Aprilia, 16 starts, 289 points
2007: 250cc World Championship – 1
st position on Aprilia, 17 starts, 312 points
2008: MotoGP World Championship – 4
th position on Yamaha, 17 starts, 190 points
2009: MotoGP World Championship – 2
nd position on Yamaha, 17 starts, 261 points
2010: MotoGP World Championship – 1
st position on Yamaha, 18 starts, 383 points
2011: MotoGP World Championship – 2
nd position on Yamaha, 15 starts, 260 points
2012: MotoGP World Championship – 1
st position on Yamaha, 17 starts, 350 points
For full details check out Jorge Lorenzo’s
profile on motogp.com.