2009 MotoGP - Estoril Slideshow

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Check out the latest MotoGP Estoril photos in the 2009 MotoGP Estoril photo gallery.



Fiat Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo "Gorgeous Jorge" shows his new leathers at Estoril.

LINK:
Photo Album 2009 MotoGP - Estoril - Motorcycle USA



Fiat Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo will race in a special livery at this weekend's Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril (pictured).

More Here: PIC: Special livery for Fiat Yamaha at Estoril | MotoGP News | 2009 | Crash.Net

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Good day for Lorenzo

(UKPA) – 2 hours ago

Jorge Lorenzo took a chunk out of team-mate Valentino Rossi's MotoGP title lead with victory at Estoril on Sunday.

Rossi could only manage fourth place on his Fiat Yamaha, despite starting second, allowing Lorenzo to cut the gap at the top of the standings to 18th place.

Lorenzo won the race from pole, pulling immediately away from Rossi and the rest of the field.

There was a brief challenge from Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa who made a rapid start before eventually slipping back, but Lorenzo ultimately crossed the line a comfortable 6.3 seconds ahead of Ducati's Casey Stoner.

Stoner, making his return from two months out with illness, can celebrate his first podium finish since Assen in June.

Stoner will now look forward to his home race at Phillip Island, but all eyes there will be on the Fiat Yamaha pair, and particularly on Rossi, who will need a big improvement on today's showing if he is to retain his world championship crown.

Unable to keep up with the pace at the front, Rossi finished a disappointing 23 seconds adrift of Lorenzo as he missed the podium on this circuit for the first time in the premier class.

With three races left to go, Lorenzo suddenly seems much closer to Rossi, leaving the Italian with much to ponder until they race again in a fortnight's time.

Colin Edwards rode his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 to fifth place behind Rossi, while Toni Elias' San Carlo Honda Gresini finished just ahead of Repsol Honda's Andrea Divizioso to claim sixth.

James Toseland, who is fighting for his future in MotoGP, could only manage eighth place on his Monster Yamaha Tech 3.

LINK: The Press Association: Good day for Lorenzo

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Estoril Moto GP - the plot thickens

The “aliens” were firmly in charge at the Moto GP race in Estoril this past weekend, as Jorge Lorenzo led Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, and Valentino Rossi across the line.

Several races ago, as these four clearly put their collective stamp on the 2009 season, Marco Melandri was heard to mutter that the four of them must be aliens, they were so much faster than everyone else. The quip has stuck.

The big news on the weekend was the return of Casey Stoner, who’s been gone for two months, missing three races in an attempt to discover the cause of the mysterious illness that’s been affecting him this season. You’d never have known he was away, however, as he exploded back onto the scene as naturally as if he’d been riding every day.

The race itself was something of a snooze, actually. Jorge Lorenzo took his Fiat Yamaha to fastest lap in every practice and qualifying session, left from the pole and disappeared into the distance. The following riders spread out relatively quickly, once Stoner dispatched Pedrosa from second, and that was that.



Rossi just couldn't get ahead.
photo: motogp.com

As usual, there was action farther back in the field. Mika Kallio looked set for a top five finish on his satellite Pramac Ducati until he crashed unhurt, while Randy de Puniet (of all things) had a boot unzip and wasted a couple of laps trying to fix it, dropping to the end of the field then riding like a fiend to nearly get back into the top 10.

Colin Edwards had an excellent if lonely ride to fifth on the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha, while Andrea Dovizioso on the second factory Repsol Honda was mired in mid-field, barely beating the Ducati of Nicky Hayden, who once again found that his wayward bike for some mysterious reason felt totally different in the race than it had in practice.

Great Coverage Continued Here:

CMG Online - Canadian Motorcycle Guide - Estoril Moto GP - the plot thickens