Jorge Lorenzo, Ben Spies enjoy encouraging run at Losail, Qatar – MotoGP news
Jorge Lorenzo, 2010 world champion and Factory Yamaha Racing rider displayed his skills at the opening race of the 2011 MotoGP season in Qatar.
Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar was held at Losail circuit being the only floodlit race of the season.
The Spanish started the race with a good pace and took lead at early laps, but could not maintain it for long time when Repsol Honda duo, Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa hopped into lead and left Lorenzo in third place for the title battle.
After half of the race passed, with eight laps on the countdown Lorenzo ended the chase by overtaking his country fellow and settled at second place, again for couple of laps he was left behind but with final overtake, he reclaimed his second place at podium
to the chequered lap.
In 20th and 21st lap he set the fast times with 1:55.8 seconds on the clock, he passed the finish line at second by closing the gap to 3.440 seconds from the race winner Casey Stoner.
“I put everything I have inside into my riding on the track for the race. From the start to the end, I was on the limit every lap. I almost crashed on one corner but I managed to stay on the bike and finished in second position which is the best that I could
do,” he said.
New kid on the Yamaha factory block, Ben Spies could not have a favourable start as he was caught in the first turn as the pack settled Spies was placed at eighth position.
The American instantly closed upon Hector Barbera of Mapfre Aspar Team and passed to seventh places to start the battle of sixth place following Valentino Rossi.
After maintaining a short gap of 0.1-0.2 seconds off from Rossi for a long duration he attempted to pass the Italian at the end of start-finish strip. But entering the corner with high speed led him to run wide giving Rossi the benefit of maintaining his
sixth position.
After the slight error he gained back his pace and struck again with the same strategy but this time he was able to click the right spot and gave the lap time of 1:55.812 seconds on the 18th lap. Spies finished at sixth place by
building a gap of 5.96 seconds from Rossi.
“That’s the first race of the year done and dusted, it wasn’t picture perfect and I got pushed out a bit in turn one, getting trapped behind Barbera and Rossi the first few laps. They were fighting together which meant I lost touch with the guys in front,”
he said.
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