LE MANS – Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo won the French MotoGP yesterday just a year after he finished second despite riding with two broken ankles.
The 22-year-old – a two-time 250cc world champion – enjoyed a trouble-free ride on his Yamaha to coast home ahead of Italian Marco Melandri on a Kawasaki while pole sitter Dani Pedrosa of Spain was third.
Lorenzo’s joy was the reverse of Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi who had a nightmare as he sought his 99th career victory but in the end trailed in in 16th position without scoring a point.
That allowed Lorenzo to take over at the top of the standings where he leads Rossi by a point as well as Australia’s Casey Stoner.
‘It was a crazy race,’ gasped Lorenzo.
‘The pivotal point came when we decided to change the tyres. After that I was riding confidently and it was easy from then on.’
For Melandri it was a surprising but welcome change of fortune after a dire season last year for the former 250cc world champion.
‘It’s been a very tough time,’ said the 26-year-old.
‘I just came here to do my best and I knew the weather would be a factor in the race.
‘It is a very, very nice day for me.’
Pedrosa was relieved to have grabbed third spot.
– Nampa-AFP
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