It's not supposed to be this easy, but from his first three
MotoGP appearances
Jorge Lorenzo has taken three pole positions and three podiums - culminating in a debut premier-class victory at Estoril on Sunday.
As of that wasn't enough, the youngest rider on the MotoGP grid is now joint leader of the world championship standings - alongside arch-rival
Dani Pedrosa, who took four races to claim his first MotoGP win, during 2006.
Lorenzo's runner-up finish on his MotoGP debut, at Qatar, may have been enough for many to predict a race victory sooner rather than later, but few would have picked Estoril - where Lorenzo had never won as a 125 or 250cc rider and, unlike at the first two rounds, hadn't tested his new YZR-M1.
But it turned into a comprehensive victory for the 20-year-old who, having been unable to match Pedrosa and
Valentino Rossi last time out at
Jerez, showed his rapid rate of progression by beating them both during Sunday's race.
Repsol Honda rider Pedrosa took the holeshot at a packed first corner, but was soon swamped by Lorenzo and the fellow Fiat Yamaha of top
Bridgestone rider Rossi.
With occasional rain drops falling, the trio had a fearsome battle for the first half of the race, with Lorenzo momentarily dropping to third by lap 12 of 28. But this was to be no repeat of Jerez and the Michelin-shod rider passed Pedrosa into turn one then set off after Rossi.
The 20-year-old made his move later that same lap with a bold pass at the chicane. From then on it was a one-man-show as he extended his lead to 1.817secs over Pedrosa, who had passed Rossi for second place on lap 15.
"I feel like I'm in heaven!" beamed Lorenzo, who planted his trademark 'Lorenzo's Land' victory flag for the first time as a MotoGP rider. "First of all I have to say thank you to Yamaha and to Fiat because without their confidence in me I wouldn't be here now. I can't believe it and it's really impossible for me to describe my feelings, I'm so happy for everyone!
