Ducati rider Jorge Lorenzo scored his first podium for the Bologna based squad when he crossed the line in a superb third place in Sunday afternoon's Spanish Grand Prix at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit.
The rider from Mallorca, who started from row 3 after qualifying eighth on Saturday, produced an excellent race, moving up from eighth to fourth in the first six laps.
He then passed the Tech 3 Yamaha of Johann Zarco on lap 12 and continued to increase his lead over the French rider, crossing the line with around three seconds' advantage.
The podium, in front of his home fans, could not have been a better present for the 30 year old…
“A podium here at Jerez, in front of all my fans and after three complicated races, is the best present I could receive for my thirtieth birthday,” he said. “It's a result that gives me more satisfaction than many wins I scored in the past, because it was very difficult to achieve.”
“To finish third on a Ducati at a traditionally difficult circuit for the Desmosedici is incredible! Honestly, I didn't expect to be able to fight for the podium, and the choice of front tyre was the key. The start was a bit chaotic because of the number of riders ahead of me but I didn't give up so easily and believed that I could recover to overtake Zarco and finish third.”
“The last few months have been tough, but the most important thing is that I've always believed in myself and that the team has shown its full trust in me.”
With Lorenzo's third place, the Ducati Team has reached a total of 100 podiums in MotoGP.
