Lorenzo reigns in Spanish rain

From motogp.com

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing) took victory in the wet MotoGP race at the Gran Premio bwin de España on Sunday after Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) crashed while leading. It was a Spanish one-two with Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) claiming second position and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) in third.

The current MotoGP World Champion started from the front row and was able to pick up 25 points and claim his first victory of the 2011 season. This result was his second successive win at the Andalusian circuit and a replica one-two with Pedrosa. The Mallorcan finished a clear 13.256 over his compatriot after a chaotic race which was unpredictable until the very last lap.

"It has been one of my most patient races," Lorenzo said. "It's a great victory, which we needed and I feel so good. This is also the first time I have won in wet conditions, the first time ever. Now we are working to improve our bike, taking as many points as possible on the way.

"The King of Spain said to me that he would bring me good luck after our meeting last February in Madrid, he was right! With the competition so high this year, I never imagined I would be leader in the championship after two races. I am so happy to have won this weekend."

Simoncelli was on his way to his first victory in the premier class with a three-second advantage over Lorenzo. The Italian suffered a nasty highside at turn one, losing a potential debut win.

"I am really disappointed," Simoncelli admitted. "I knew after the first five laps that the tires were struggling but I managed to hold my advantage over Lorenzo. Unfortunately I lost the front in turn one and the rear came round on me. I tried to get it back under control but I couldn't manage it.

"It happens in racing and even though I am disappointed, I am also happy to have shown again that I am a contender this year. The most frustrating thing about today though was that I got no help at all from the marshals, unlike other riders today. The bike was okay and if I could have had some help, I am sure I could have still had a good race. That is not good but as I said before, I showed I can run with the best today and that's the main thing we'll take away with us. A major result is around the corner."

Pedrosa had made a tentative start to his race but managed to get back in the hunt for the win. Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) had passed the Spaniard for second in the dying laps, but made a mistake and ended up in the gravel, losing 20 points.

It was the same story for Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who due to Spies' error, was on course to take a rostrum place behind Pedrosa. However the American also ended up visiting the gravel trap and was unable to restart. It was Hayden who finished in third to take the first podium for Ducati Team this season and his second of his career with the team.

Qatar race winner Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda) was victim to a mistake from Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) which ended his race prematurely. The Ducati rider, who started from 12th, was up to fourth within the early laps and then joined the leading group. After passing Lorenzo, Stoner was his next target and as he made his manoeuvre on the Australian, he made it through on the inside and then lost control of his bike. His error caused a collision with Stoner, sending them both off. The Repsol Honda rider was unable to restart his bike, while the Italian was able to continue, albeit further down the field. Due to incidents further ahead, Rossi picked up 11 points for fifth place.

"We made a good start to the race," Stoner explained. "We understood the tires weren't the best and they were trying to spin, so we needed to back off quite a bit. "Rossi came up the inside and wasn't able to stay on the bike and took me out. It was not the best day for us for sure, after such a good weekend. We're very disappointed with this result. I believe we would have been there at the end because it was a long race with many people crashing which is why we were being quiet."

Stoner was clearly frustrated after the incident which ended his race prematurely. After the race, Rossi went to the Honda garage to apologise to Stoner for his mistake. The Repsol Honda rider shared his feelings after the two exchanged words.

"For sure, I would prefer if Valentino did it away from the cameras and would say something to me quietly without always having to have proof," commented Stoner. "For sure Valentino doesn't do this for himself, he just wants to show to everybody that he has apologised. Yes it's a nice gesture, it's very good, but it still doesn't change the result today, so we'll see what happens in the next races."

Rossi made amends for his mistake, but insisted he was in a position to fight for the podium.

"Yes it was a crazy race because it was difficult conditions and everyone was on the limit with the softer tires," explained Rossi. "I was very fast in the beginning of the race in the wet, but unfortunately I made a mistake in braking and I crashed. Unfortunately, I also crashed into Stoner. I went to him to say sorry that I made a mistake. With my race today, we had the potential to try and win or finish on the podium, but at the end the result isn't so bad. I came back to finish fifth which was important points for the championship."

Hiroshi Aoyama (San Carlo Honda Gresini) was one place away from the rostrum, taking fourth position, his best result in MotoGP. The Japanese rider's previous best finish had been seventh.

Héctor Barberá (Mapfre Aspar Team) built on his performance in Losail to finish sixth, ahead of Karel Abraham (Cardion ab Motoracing), who after crashing during the race was able to remount to take seventh place and pick up points in his second MotoGP race. Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) was able to take eighth place after similar fate as the Czech rider, when he crashed in a solid top five place. This was the British rider's first race at the Jerez circuit in his rookie season.

Spanish Moto2 World Champion Toni Elías (LCR Honda) brought his bike home in ninth place with the final place in the top 10 going to Rizla Suzuki's John Hopkins, replacing the injured Álvaro Bautista, after a long gap away from the series. Loris Capirossi (Pramac Racing) was 13th.

Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda) who started from sixth made a promising start picking up a few places, but started to go backwards and then made a costly error when he slid off track into the gravel. The Italian finished last in 14th after coming into the pits to change his wet tires.

Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) mastered the rain at the Andalusian circuit to take his fourth victory in the Moto2 series at the Gran Premio bwin de España. Joining him on the rostrum were Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Paddock Moto2) and Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project).

Lüthi took the early control in the race and was on course for his first win in Moto2 until the Italian rider passed him for the lead and pulled a large advantage. His winning margin was 7.850. Building on the second place the Speed Master rider achieved in Losail, Iannone takes the lead of the 2011 World Championship after scoring 25 points for the win.

The race started in damp conditions and then more rain fell throughout the race leading to a slippery and difficult circuit. Starting from 18th position Simone Corsi (Ioda Racing Project) was leading the race after a lap and half, but was caught by Iannone and the Swiss rider and took the final spot on the rostrum.

Nicolas Terol led the way to score another 25 points in a wet 125cc Gran Premio bwin de España ahead of Jonas Folger (Red Bull Ajo Motorsport) and Johann Zarco (Ajo Motorsport) in a thrilling race at the Andalusian circuit.

It looked set to be a Bankia Aspar one two until Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar) after battling with his team mate through out the race, fell on the last lap in his 150th Grand Prix start and eventually finished 11th. Terol claimed his 11th successive podium with this victory and his seventh win of his 125cc career. In the Spaniard's 98th race, he finished a massive 17.446 ahead of second placed man, Folger.

MotoGP Race Results
1. Jorge LORENZO (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 50:49.046
2. Dani PEDROSA (SPA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +19.339
3. Nicky HAYDEN (USA) Ducati Team Ducati +29.085
4. Hiroshi AOYAMA (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +29.551
5. Valentino ROSSI (ITA) Ducati Team Ducati +1:02.227
6. Hector BARBERA (SPA) Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP Ducati +1:08.440
7. Karel ABRAHAM (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati +1:14.120
8. Cal CRUTCHLOW (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +1:19.110
9. Toni ELIAS (SPA) LCR Honda MotoGP Honda +1:42.906
10. John HOPKINS (USA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki +1:48.395
11. Loris CAPIROSSI (ITA) Pramac Racing Team Ducati +1:51.876
12. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (ITA) Repsol Honda Team Honda +1 Lap
Not Classified
Colin EDWARDS (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha +1 Lap
Ben SPIES (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha +3 Laps
Randy DE PUNIET (FRA) Pramac Racing Team Ducati +11 Laps
Marco SIMONCELLI (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda +16 Laps
Casey STONER (AUS) Repsol Honda Team Honda +20 Laps

MotoGP Standings
1. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha) 45
2. Dani PEDROSA (Honda) 36
3. Casey STONER (Honda) 25
4. Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati) 23
5. Valentino ROSSI (Ducati) 20
6. Hiroshi AOYAMA (Honda) 19
7. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda) 17
8. Hector BARBERA (Ducati) 14
9. Cal CRUTCHLOW (Yamaha) 13
10. Karel ABRAHAM (Ducati) 12
11. Marco SIMONCELLI (Honda) 11
12. Ben SPIES (Yamaha) 10
13. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha) 8
14. Toni ELIAS (Honda) 7
15. John HOPKINS (Suzuki) 6
16. Loris CAPIROSSI (Ducati) 5