Monday 4th May 2015

MotoGP Jerez: PH2

Jorge Lorenzo finally wakes up as MotoGP returns to Europe

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With the MotoGP circus returning to Europe, all the pre-qualifying talk was (as usual) about Marc Marquez. This time it was surrounding his finger, which he broke in a training incident.

However this was soon forgotten as another Spaniard, Jorge Lorenzo, appeared to wake up with a bit of fire in his belly that has been missing lately and stuck his Yamaha on pole position. Could this be the start of a Lorenzo revival?

Lights to flag for Lorenzo - perfect weekend!

From the off Lorenzo looked like his old self, hitting the front and trying to check out. Behind him Marquez seemed oblivious to the pain from his finger while Rossi struggled to pass Espargaro. After just a few laps the Jerez MotoGP looked an all-Spanish affair as Marc tucked in behind Jorge and Rossi struggled to close the gap to the leaders caused by his delay in overtaking Pol.

Mid-race and the excitement was rapidly being sucked out of the round as Jorge had clear air between him and Marc and the young Spaniard was equally nicely clear of Rossi. Could Valentino hunt down Marc again? It seemed the only possible spark of excitement. Sadly not.

While it was great for the championship to see Lorenzo back on form (unless you are a Rossi fan) the Jerez MotoGP was a bit of an anticlimax after the last few cracking races. An easy win for Lorenzo, a safe second for the injured Marquez and Rossi on the podium again - for the 200th time!

And 200 podiums for Rossi!

A disappointing (by his standards) start left Lowes with a lot to do in Moto2 and sadly for the plucky Brit his race didn't improve as the laps counted down. The race was won by Folger with Zarco in second, Rabat in third and Rins in the dirt after a do or die last corner move. Lowes' problem turned out to be a dodgy Dunlop tyre.

Moto3 and Danny Kent's run of stunning form continued (thanks to a bit of help from Quartararo) with another win. He could have settled for third, but Kent rode a great last lap to capitalise on Quartararo's banzai last corner move that split the three leaders and gave him the clear air he needed to take the win.

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Results

MotoGP:
1. Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)
2. Marquez (Repsol Honda Team)
3. Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP)

Moto2:
1. Folger (AGR Team)
2. Zarco (Ajo Motorsport)
3. Rabat (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS)

Moto3:
1. Kent (Leopard Racing)
2. Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Ajo)
3. Binder (Red Bull KTM Ajo)

Brit watch:

Cal Crutchlow (MotoGP) - 4
Bradley Smith (MotoGP) - 8
Scott Redding (MotoGP) - 13
Eugene Laverty (MotoGP) - 18
Sam Lowes (Moto2) - 20
John McPhee (Moto3) - 10
Danny Kent (Moto3) - 1

Previous rounds:
MotoGP USA
MotoGP Qatar
MotoGP Argentina

[cuda]

PH - please could you do us a favour and not give the results away on the front page before the highlights on Monday when ITV4 shows them?!

Thanks vm

[smilo996]

What a race Moto3 was. John McPheee from 25th to 10th and Danny Kent finally proving he is not a get away and stay in front rider. Brilliant last lap.
MotoGP, well less so.
4 Spanish podiums in all races so far this year but 3 in Jerez alone and this is the first of four races in Spain. Dorna said that would address the number of Spanish riders in MotoGp last year. 22 last year and 22 this year. In WSBK, 1 in 2013 and 5 this year. Someone else needs to run the Championship.

[richarda0109]

Agree Moto GP1 was strangely subdued compared to the previous races. Even "The Doctor" didnt make his usual last few laps charge on the guy in front.

Rgds
Richard

[upsidedownmark]

What cuda said.. At least in the forum we have spoilers..

[cuda]

upsidedownmark said:

What cuda said.. At least in the forum we have spoilers..

Eh?

[2smoke]

Please don't show a picture of the winner! I only managed to watch the highlights last night but already knew the result after seeing the picture of Lorenzo. Otherwise it means no more PH until i've watched the race! :-(

[cuda]

2smoke said:

Please don't show a picture of the winner! I only managed to watch the highlights last night but already knew the result after seeing the picture of Lorenzo. Otherwise it means no more PH until i've watched the race! :-(

Hello PH? Any chance you can keep the results off the front page? Moto GP only on BT Sport and not everyone has that. Its not like F1 which is on 2/3 channels (ironically...).