Jorge Lorenzo’s 2010 season so far

The Fiat Yamaha rider has had an almost flawless season at the halfway point of the 2010 campaign. Leader of the Championship the 23 year-old has been demonstrated a consistency in the first nine races that has made him the favourite for the title.

Smooth like butter, rhythmic like a hammer. This has been the mantra of the Jorge Lorenzo in 2010 – one even displayed on his brake levers – and it has been evident. The young Spaniard has been smooth and consistent in the nine rounds so far, taking six victories and then finishing second on the three occasions that a win has not been possible. Added to that five poles and 210 points from a possible 225 and Lorenzo’s season until now has been almost perfect.

The Fiat Yamaha rider has taken a huge step, not only in the quality of his riding but also in his approach to the races. Lorenzo has learned to read the races differently, knowing when to strike for victory when the circumstances permit but also being aware that second place on the occasions that his rivals have the upper hand is better than a fall.

Looking back to the start of the season makes Lorenzo’s achievements so far all the more impressive, given the fact he started the campaign still now carrying the effects of a pre-season training injury which meant he arrived in Qatar for round one far from being in his best physical shape. Second place under the floodlights was therefore a highly impressive outcome.

The following race at the Jerez saw the best of Lorenzo, as his hunger for a first premier class win on home soil saw him recover an advantage built up in the race by rival Dani Pedrosa to overcome his fellow Spaniard and win. After his first victory of the season Lorenzo used the one-day test to practice his starts, and it was paid off. Victory at the Le Mans in the next round followed (his first back-to-back premier class wins), before the second place at Mugello behind Pedrosa. There then he followed three consecutive wins: Silverstone, Assen and Catalunya. Second at Sachsenring was next as he accepted more the valuable points with Pedrosa winning, and a win at Laguna Seca completed a phenomenal first half of the season for the Mallorcan.