MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo wins the World Championship

Stoner said he will retire at the end of the 2012 season. He won the world championship in 2011 and we would have wanted him to exit in style by successfully defending his title. But a superior force has a way of making plans that we do not concur with.

Stoner, in my book is arguably one of the best ever and his track record will stand the test of time. But 2012 will not go down as his best year.Misfortune crept in the mix and he was sidelined by an accident. His teammate Dani Pedrosa saw a championship flicker at the end of the tunnel and went feet first in the deep end of the pond as he tried to claim it.

Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo is very good at what he does and if given an opportunity he will put leather to asphalt in a mighty hurry to steal any victory which lays itself careless. With Stoner removed from the frame and Dani Pedrosa trying to grab fame, a ding dong battle between 2 voracious sharks was inevitable.

Pedrosa

Dani Pedrosa grabbed his Repsol Honda by its handlebars and rode the fairings of its prototype frame. He narrowed the gap to Jorge and I am certain there were times when Jorge prayed to his God and questioned his designs. But mishaps have no bias. With 2 races remaining in the season heading into the Australian GP, Pedrosa was still in with a good shot and if Jorge blinked Pedrosa was more than willing to pounce.

But, Phillip Island is home to, at present, the greatest rider on the grid – Casey Stoner. Stoner has the key for Phillip Island’s locks. He has won the last 5 GPs at the venue and to reward him for his prowess at the track, a corner was named after him.

Stoner

So, win number 6 was prophesied for Stoner and when he grabbed pole the writing was not only on the wall, it was also on the P1 trophy. The fans had a mouth-watering prospect with Stoner starting at P1 and Jorge and Pedrosa following in P2 and P3 respectively.

Phillip Island, as stated earlier, was always Stoner’s to lose and from the outset it did not look like he would lose. Dani Pedrosa knew he had a steep challenge. He had to ride the ride of his life to push the battle to the final round, but his battle plan was not a sound one. He lost the front of his machine rather early and as he skidded on the asphalt, his title fight for 2012 followed him to the land of – what if? (click below)

Australian GP 2012

Stoner did what was expected of him, he gave a commanding performance and the man who was expected to win the championship in Stoner’s absence, Jorge Lorenzo, held his nerve, rode a well calculated race and crossed the finish line P2 to accept his title – 2012 MotoGP WORLD CHAMPION!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer