MotoGP Results: Round 4 – Le Mans, France
Lorenzo Wins Wet-Dry Le Mans, Melandri Takes Second in Dramatic French MotoGP!
In an extraordinary race that was almost impossible to keep up with, Jorge Lorenzo took a stunning victory in difficult semi-wet conditions. Valentino Rossi had a terrible day, swapping bikes to get on slicks too early and crashing and then suffering a ride through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Marco Melandri stunned to finish second on the Hayate Kawasaki.
Spanish star Jorge Lorenzo found the perfect remedy for his Jerez frustrations at Le Mans, bouncing straight back from his DNF in Spain with a brilliant win at the Grand Prix de France in highly difficult conditions – to return to the top of the standings. Lorenzo took the lead on the first lap and shot away at the front, building up a big advantage on wet tyres as the track dried quickly, eventually being the last rider to change onto slicks in his first ever ‘flag-to-flag’ contest and riding superbly on both sets of tyres to win by a 17 second margin. Another brilliant effort by Hayate Racing’s Marco Melandri saw him cross the line second for his first podium since 2007, having been unsure of his MotoGP future over the winter.
link: The Official MotoGP Website
MotoGP French GP Results
1 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 47’52.678
2 M. MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team + 17.710
3 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 19.893
4 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team + 20.455
5 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team + 30.539
6 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 37.462
7 C. EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 40.191
8 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 45.421
9 J. TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 50.307
10 T. ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini + 53.218
11 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 53.550
12 N. HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team + 56.647
13 Y. TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP + 56.688
14 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1’11.299
15 N. CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing + 1’15.385
16 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2 Lap
Rider Comments
Lorenzo: “It was very difficult because I am not used to changing bikes in the middle of the race and this was the first time in my life that I have done it. I am grateful for the victory because I was fast with the wet tyres and also with the dry ones. I knew it would be so hard because you have to change bikes at the right moment, if you do it one lap too late you could lose. We changed at the perfect point and we are back on top.”
link: Lorenzo ecstatic with difficult race win | The Official MotoGP Website
Melandri: “It is awesome to be back on the podium. One month and a half ago, to imagine tasting the champagne again would have been so difficult, so it is one of the best feelings I have had in my life. I had a very difficult 2008 season and now I am working to get my speed back.”
link: Podium finish big achievement for Melandri and Hayate | The Official MotoGP Website
Pedrosa: “It’s amazing to get a podium here. My start wasn’t so good,” said the Le Mans poleman who had thought twice about starting the race on dry tyres. “I came in very early to change bikes, but when I got back out the track was not completely dry. Then I saw Rossi crash in front of me, and that made me take a lot of care –even too much- and I lost many seconds at that midway point. “Finally I was able to get more pace and at the limit of my chances on the last lap I was able to pass Dovizioso.”
link: Pedrosa amazed by third consecutive podium finish | The Official MotoGP Website
Rossi: Reviewing Sunday’s proceedings, Rossi commented, “I had difficulties from the start and I really could not ride my bike to its best. By the fourth lap I felt that I was quite slow and that I couldn’t ride as I wanted. I decided to change bikes early because usually this strategy pays off. I knew that I had to warm the tyres up a little bit but I crashed anyway in that corner because at that point the track was still wet and I just didn’t ride into it in a calm enough manner.”
link: Rossi reflects on complicated day | The Official MotoGP Website
Lorenzo re-takes the championship lead by a single point from Rossi who is now equal on points with Stoner. Pedrosa is 3rd with 57 points. The next MotoGP is at Mugello, Italy on May 31st.
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