Lorenzo wraps up second title on bogey Phillip Island circuit

Jorge Lorenzo clinched the second MotoGP title of his career at Phillip Island on Sunday, easing to a second-placed finish behind reigning champion and local favorite Casey Stoner, riding in his final Australian Grand Prix before retirement.

Lorenzo’s second title was effectively sealed as early as the second lap, when fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa span out of the race at the hairpin turn four, ending his late-season assault on his compatriot’s lead in the standing. Following Pedrosa’s exit, all that remained for Lorenzo to do was finish the race without incident. The 2010 champion narrowly avoided disaster himself on that second lap, when Pedrosa’s errant Honda narrowly avoided Lorenzo’s Yamaha. Scare over, Lorenzo was ushered to the line by teammate Cal Crutchlow, who ensured no reckless mishaps befell the champion-in-waiting as he cruised into third place.

“I just maintained a good gap to the guys behind and made sure it went up and was not going to push to follow Jorge because I think I would have been sacked if anything happened,” said the Briton.

Going into the race, Pedrosa was 23 points behind Lorenzo and had a final day showdown on Spanish soil in his sights. Now 43 points adrift, the last race of the season in Valencia will merely be a procession for Lorenzo, the only Spaniard in history to have claimed the MotoGP title more than once.

Phillip Island will be the bigger party, but I will like to celebrate it in Palma, my island”

“I’m really, really happy with this championship because we know how difficult it is to fight with riders like Casey, like Dani and to fight with a factory like Honda. It is very hard,” Lorenzo said after the race. “You must be very consistent, never make a mistake and always try to finish the races and be very focused, so today is a very special day.”

In a topsy-turvy season in the premier category, Lorenzo’s consistency was the key to his eventual triumph. In 17 starts the Spaniard climbed the podium on 16 occasions. Lorenzo’s only failure to finish came in Assen in June, when compatriot Álvaro Bautista’s Gresini Honda collided with the Yamaha at the first corner.

Phillip Island was not the most auspicious venue for Lorenzo’s chances of sealing the title with a race to go. In 2009, he crashed out at the first corner and last year he lost part of a finger after an horrific crash during practice. With the title in his kit bag, Lorenzo was able to cast his mind toward celebrating in his home country after next week’s Valencia Grand Prix. “Phillip Island will be the bigger party because it’s very soon after the win, but I will like to celebrate it in Palma, Mallorca. That’s my island,” he said. “Let’s see if we can arrange a big celebration there.”

Next season, the 2012 champion will be rejoined at Yamaha by seven-time champion Valentino Rossi. With Stoner leaving the competition, Lorenzo’s chances of adding to his two titles have received a boost, although Pedrosa will doubtless be in the mix again.