Jorge Lorenzo
Number: 99
Place of birth: Palma de Mallorca
Date of birth: 04/May/1987
Weight: 65 kg
Height: 172 cm
The 2008 Rookie of the Year, Jorge Lorenzo made an immediate impact on the MotoGP World Championship with a stunning first five races. The Fiat Yamaha rider took pole for his first ever premier class race –becoming the first man to do so since Max Biaggi ten years previously- and finished second on his debut in an astounding performance. 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.
The third race of the year at Estoril was one at which Lorenzo had the perfect weekend. Starting from pole, the Spaniard took his first victory to achieve one of his longstanding ambitions as a rider.
Unfortunately the 2008 season was also one marked by crashes, leaving the debutant out of action for his home race in Catalunya and suffering from a combination of injuries and lack of confidence. He picked up the pace in the latter part of the season, and was serious contender for the World Championship in 2009.
The route to his two consecutive 250cc World Championships (won in the two years prior to his MotoGP move) was one built on breaking records, and began with a first encounter with minicross competitions at age three. Lorenzo competed in this form, in addition to trial, minimoto and motorcross junior, in his native Majorca over the next few years, following up on 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 became the youngest ever rider to enter a World Championship race. Turning fifteen –the minimum age for Grand Prix participation- on the second day of practice for the 2002 Spanish race at Jerez, he made his debut onboard a Derbi at a track where he would have much success over the next few years.
The following season he took his first victory in 125cc, at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. In 2004 he took a further three triumphs, before making the move up to the 250cc category in which he would enjoy such success. Lorenzo did so with Fortuna Honda, and took four poles and six podiums in his maiden season.
2006 was to be the coming-of-age year for the Majorcan, who switched to Aprilia machinery and immediately became the favourite for the World Championship. He justified the hype with eight victories and an equalling of the ten pole positions record, lifting the title in an emotional final race of the year at Valencia.
Another dominating 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.
He entered the premier class the following year with the Factory Yamaha team, claiming the Rookie of the Year title and 4th overall after a blistering debut – the most successful debutante since the start of the four-stroke era. In 2009 he finished runner-up behind team mate Valentino Rossi, winning four races and taking additional nine podiums.
2010 saw him convert his potential into a World Champion title after a season-long display of intelligent riding put him on the podium for the first 12 consecutive races. The Mallorcan finished runner-up in 2011 despite missing two races, and for 2012 remains with the Factory Yamaha team for a fourth season which he will contest on the new 1000cc machinery.
Source: motogp.com
