MotoGP: Round 2 - Polini Grand Prix of Japan

Tyler Hopper
AllAboutBikes Staff Writer

After the first two races of the FIM MotoGP World Championship, Fiat Yamaha Team riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi sit in the number one and two spots. Jorge Lorenzo earned his second MotoGP victory Sunday at the track in Motegi Japan. The podium also included Valentino Rossi in second and Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda, in third. Casey Stoner finished fourth, which is surprising because he ran the fastest on the rain soaked track Sunday morning at warm-up.

Rocketing from the start, Valentino Rossi took the hole shot and Casey Stoner moved back to fifth due to a sloppy start. Dani Pedrosa jumped from 11th to battle with Lorenzo for second. In lap two, Yuki Takahashi, riding at his home track, t-boned Nicky Hayden. This makes the start of the season a rocky one for Hayden, who took a 130mph high side during qualifying at Qatar.

The battle for fifth continued between Stoner, Melandri, and Vermeulen into the middle of the race. Lorenzo sat behind Pedrosa and teammate Rossi, waiting for the chance to make his move. After finally taking the lead, Lorenzo failed to dominate, however he managed to hold on as Rossi and Pedrosa continued to give him pressure.

With nine laps to go, Lorenzo slowly began to increase his lead while Pedrosa closed in on Rossi, and a battle for second ensued. Rossi and Pedrosa continued to change places, with the battle getting more intense with each pass. Stoner set his sights on Dovizioso and Rossi began his mad dash to overtake Lorenzo with five laps to go. Rossi ran out of track as Lorenzo put his head down and crossed the line in the lead. Stoner managed to come out in front of Dovizioso finishing in fourth

The championship standings at the end of the Polini Grand Prix of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi are as follows: Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha, 41 points; Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha, 40 points; Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro, 38; Andrea Dovizioso, 22.