‘The happiest day in my life’ – Champion Lorenzo

MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo celebrates

Jorge Lorenzo has become Spain’s first MotoGP World Champion since Àlex Crivillé in 1999, by finishing third after starting from pole position in Malaysia on Sunday. Having battled with team-mate Valentino Rossi and Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso in the last knockings, the Mallorcan eventually elected to play it safe.

With closest challenger Dani Pedrosa out of action once again this weekend due to his broken collarbone, Lorenzo’s winning of the title ends a two-year victory streak for Rossi, who triumphed in a race today for the first time after returning from a broken leg.

“I was really impressed to be at the front and to not lose any time until the end of the race," delighted Yamaha rider Lorenzo commented.

“When the tires started sliding I thought to myself, 'Today we have to finish the race and get the maximum a rider can get in the motorcycling world…’

“Today is the happiest day in my life and we have to celebrate it."