Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
IF there was one person five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo should truly be grateful for, it has to be his father.
Due to insufficient funds, his father’s sheer frustration to be a rider was actually the factor that fueled Lorenzo’s budding spirit. This eventually paved the way for the fledgling Majorcan rider to carve out his very own name in motor sports history.
Considered the most celebrated Spanish rider in recent memory, Lorenzo, a.k.a X Fuera, first unravelled his talents at 14 when he took to the tracks with his own Derbi. A year later, he was jousting for checkered flags with marvelous stints in Rio and other places. More than 20 wins after, he was riding to high heavens at an astonishing rate. Simply, he was phenomenally unstoppable.
When asked in interviews of his flourishing career at the tender age of 27, Lorenzo answered: “When I was a kid I just wanted to compete in MotoGP. But not only have I achieved that but also I got so many race victories, world titles, so I have achieved much more than what I expected to do and I’m very proud of what I’ve done.”
“I’ve been very lucky. I also work hard with my father and those around me,” he added.
After signing with Yamaha for the MotoGP in 2008, pairing him with the legendary Valentino Rossi, the young man from Palma, Balaeric Islands, Spain was, indeed, on a roll.
Lorenzo became the youngest rider in MotoGP history to ever finish on the podium in his first three races, a record once held by Dani Pedrosa.
After having finished fourth and third place in 2008 and 2009, respectively, he eventually dominated his class by winning his first MotoGP Championship in 2010. He grabbed his second championship in 2012 and captured his latest in 2015.
He now holds five world championships, three coming from the MotoGP.
Recently, Lorenzo, together with his teammate Rossi, secured Yamaha’s Triple Crown with awards as best manufacturer and best team. Without an inch of a doubt, Yamaha has continuously developed the best machines in the world and the evolution of the super sport model has taken racing to a whole new level. The MotoGP, the premier class of motorcycle racing, is where this Japanese key player flexes its muscles.
Undeniable was Jorge Lorenzo’s display of greatness, which echoed to the far corners of the world, even reaching our own shores.
Yamaha Motors Philippines Inc.’s Yoshiaki Takeda wouldn’t be more proud.
“It is with pride that I present to you the world’s fastest rider as I officially start the 2016 Yamaha Grand Prix,” Takeda said.
The visit not only coincided with the race series’ formal opening at the Carmona Racing Circuit in Cavite, but also the launch of Yamaha’s flagship shop, the Yzone, an avenue which aims to open its doors to give access to top-of-the-line products and quality service far better than its predecessor.
Now in Greenfield district in Ortigas, the shop is considered to be the biggest of its kind yet at more than 2,000 square meters.
The ceremonies were highlighted by the unveiling of the Big Bike Category with Jorge Lorenzo, which included Yamaha’s newest Yamalube ST Supreme.
“It is exciting to know that there are talented Filipino riders here. I do hope to able to race you at the MotoGP one day,” Lorenzo enthused.
Actually, when the question was asked, “What key elements were needed to achieve this?” He gladly shared: “Important is to have discipline and to put in a lot of effort and still keep on going when things are not going well. Talent should be put in by a lot of training. Someday the Filipino will make it.”
And make it, we will, just like a father’s failure turned out to be his son’s own fulfillment.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes