Lorenzo in full throttle tilt at MotoGP crown

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo, on top form and poised to claim his maiden MotoGP world championship crown, has vowed to power to victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend.

The 23-year-old Spanish rider is already in a commanding position with a 69-point lead over compatriot and only title rival Dani Pedrosa and needs to put in only a moderate showing at the Sepang circuit.

But Lorenzo hinted he would continue to race in his usual thrilling and aggressive style, despite the fact that no other rider poses a threat to his title dream.

“This weekend is very important. I will try to be the MotoGP champion. Let’s try and I hope you will support me to let my dream come true,” the jubilant double world 250GP champion said as he met with fans this week.

“The most important thing is to win the title. Of course, I want to win the race,” he said.

Pedrosa is certain to miss the race while he recovers from surgery on his collarbone and if so Lorenzo will need just six points in Malaysia on Sunday to fulfil his ambition.

Lorenzo is a fan of the fast and flowing Sepang track, where he clinched his second 250cc title in 2007.

Last year at Sepang a sighting lap problem forced him to start from the back but he charged through the field to finish fourth, overtaking 12 riders on his way.

Pedrosa, on a Honda, broke his left collarbone at Motegi, Japan, last week after he lost control of his bike. He underwent surgery in Barcelona on Saturday.

The injury to Pedrosa’s shoulder had cemented Lorenzo’s chances of clinching the MotoGP crown.

Race organisers said that 10th place in Malaysia would have been enough to give Lorenzo the season title. He needed to score just seven more points than Pedrosa in Malaysia to confirm his world title.

Lorenzo has amassed 297 points with four races to go while second-ranked Pedrosa has 228 points.

After Malaysia, the riders will head to the Australian Grand Prix on October 17 and then to Estoril on October 31. The championship ends on November 7 in Valencia.