1. Jorge Lorenzo (MotoGP)
For the second weekend in succession, Jorge Lorenzo tops the TCF Power Five and if truth be told, he won this one by a distance. For a number of reasons, the Japanese Grand Prix should not have been his with the stop/start nature of Motegi playing perfectly into the hands of Honda (who own the circuit) but the brilliance of Lorenzo swung it Yamaha’s way.
The lack of any track time prior to qualifying and a soaked race track served to level the playing field slightly but Jorge didn’t just take pole position, he wiped the floor with the opposition, topping the times by over half a second. What followed in the race was a masterclass in how to ride under pressure. Lorenzo didn’t put a wheel wrong and despite a faster package underneath him, Marc Marquez simply wasn’t presented with an opportunity to pass and in the end, his riding became ragged. For Lorenzo, the battle was won. Now to Valencia to try and win the war.
The battle between Jorge and Marc in 2013 has been a fascinating one as the current king fights to prevent the young pretender from snatching his crown and everything about Jorge’s performances at the moment suggest he won’t relinquish it without an almighty fight. If he replicates this performance at the finale in Valencia, the impossible comeback may become possible.
(Photo Credit: Yamaha)
