MotoGP – Valencia – Jorge Lorenzo: “I thank Yamaha and all those who contributed to this fantastic season”

Jorge Lorenzo ended the 2010 season on a high by winning the last race held in Valencia. The Mallorcan Yamaha rider (2010 MotoGP champion) recovered positions after a wild initial battle with Simoncelli and with 8 laps to go he passed Stoner to take his ninth victory in front of his home crowd in Valencia. Here are his words.

“Coming into Valencia, I was absolutely determined to win once again, in this fantastic season, in front of the home crowd. In free practice I was always fast, but it seemed that Casey was even faster. Today I started well but, at the second corner, as I was about to overtake Stoner, I was passed by three or four riders. Then, I had a tough confrontation with Simoncelli, and I almost fell! I kept calm and focused; Lap after lap, I recovered. In the end, the battle with Casey was splendid. Winning in front of my home crowd was one of the happiest moments of my life. We are proud to have achieved the points record with 383. I was once considered a somewhat crazy rider who often crashed. However, demonstrating continuity like today makes me proud. I thank Yamaha and everyone who contributed to this fantastic season. This evening there will be a chance to celebrate, before starting work towards 2011, next Tuesday. And, finally, I say goodbye to Valentino Rossi, and wish him good luck: I can't wait to meet him on the track again next year!”