With five races still to go in MotoGP, Jorge Lorenzo only needs to finish ninth or better in the next race to become the new World Champion after finishing fourth in the Japanese MotoGP at Motegi. That is, of course, assuming Dani Pedrosa does not race in Malaysia.
The race was won by Casey Stoner, his second consecutive victory, with pole-sitter Dovizioso second and current champion Valentino Rossi in third place.
However, with Lorenzo’s closest rival, Dani Pedrosa, sidelined through injury, the Spaniard looks almost certain to become the 2010 champion.
Japan MotoGP results:
1. Casey Stoner (Australia) Ducati
2. Andrea Dovizioso (Italy) Honda
3. Valentino Rossi (Italy) Yamaha
4. Jorge Lorenzo (Spain) Yamaha
5. Colin Edwards (U.S.) Yamaha
6. Marco Simoncelli (Italy) Honda
7. Alvaro Bautista (Spain) Suzuki
8. Ben Spies (U.S.) Yamaha
9. Randy de Puniet (France) Honda
10. Hiroshi Aoyama (Japan) Honda
11. Marco Melandri (Italy) Honda
12. Nicky Hayden (U.S.) Ducati
13. Hector Barbera (Spain) Ducati
14. Aleix Espargaro (Spain) Ducati
15. Mika Kallio (Finland) Ducati