Lorenzo completes Portuguese hat-trick

Mon, Nov 01 10 08:36 AM

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo won the Portuguese Grand Prix from pole position for the third year in a row on Sunday after a battle with Yamaha team mate Valentino Rossi.

Outgoing champion Rossi led from the fourth lap, despite Spaniard Lorenzo taking the top slot on the grid after a rain-hit qualifying, but was passed by his team mate after 17 of the 28 laps at Estoril.

Lorenzo, who won the title in Malaysia this month, then powered away to take his first race win since the Czech Grand Prix in August and eighth of the season by an 8.629-second margin.

Honda's Andrea Dovizioso finished third behind fellow Italian Rossi.

"I got a great start and was in the lead but eventually Valentino overtook me and then off he went. He had a better pace than me then and I couldn't go with him," said Lorenzo.

"As the track got drier I found my pace improving and then step-by-step I closed the gap and was able to get past him."

Australian Casey Stoner crashed out after four laps when he lost the rear of the Ducati and slid into the gravel trap at turn 13.

American Ben Spies, on the Tech3 Yamaha, suffered a dislocated left ankle when he fell on his way to the starting grid.

RECORD TALLY

With one race remaining, Lorenzo has an unassailable 358 points and is on course to overhaul Rossi's 2008 record tally of 373 in a single season.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who returned after missing the last three races due to injury, finished eighth and has 236 points with Rossi on 217 and in with a chance of taking the overall runner-up slot in the final round in Valencia next weekend.

Yamaha completed the triple crown of team, rider and manufacturer's titles.

In the Moto2 class, Germany's Stefan Bradl won from the third row of the grid, with Alex Baldolini of Italy taking his first world championship podium in second place in his 143rd start.

Turkish rider Kenan Sofuoglo, making his grand prix debut, led the race by more than six seconds at one point before finishing fifth.

Spain's Marc Marquez took his 10th win of the season in the 125cc category, coming from the back of the grid in a re-started race. He leads the championship by 17 points from compatriot Nicolas Terol.

Source: Published>