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MotoGP: Facts about the Pramac Grand Prix of China

4-30-2008

by Auto123.com

Source: MotoGP.com

Yamaha, Honda and Ducati have all had one MotoGP victory each at the Shanghai circuit.

Casey Stoner is the only rider to have taken more than a single victory at Shanghai- in the 250cc class in 2005 and the MotoGP race last year. For the first time since joining Ducati at the start of last year Stoner has had back-to-back races without a podium finish.

At the Portuguese Grand Prix, Jorge Lorenzo became only the second Yamaha rider since the introduction of the fourstroke MotoGP machines to do the clean sweep of pole, race victory and new lap record. Valentino Rossi has achieved this on 5 occasions, the last time being at the Dutch TT in 2005. If Lorenzo takes the victory in China he will become the first rider to take back-to-back premier-class wins in his rookie season since Kenny Roberts back in 1978.

Jorge Lorenzo's victory in Portugal makes him the youngest ever rider to finish on the podium at three successive races in the premier-class taking the record from his rival Pedrosa by just a single day. In Portugal Lorenzo also became the second youngest rider to have scored pole, victory and fastest lap in the premier-class - only Pedrosa has achieved this at a younger age.

Jorge Lorenzo will celebrate his 21st birthday on raceday in China. If Lorenzo win the Chinese GP he will become the youngest ever rider to take back-to-back victories in the premier-class. The rider who currently hold this record is Freddie Spencer who was 21 years and 104 days old when he won the French GP in 1983 having won the previous race in South Africa.

Dani Pedrosa qualified on pole and set a new lap record at the Chinese GP in 2006 on his way to taking his first MotoGP victory. Pedrosa was the top Honda rider in China last year when he finished in 4th place over 14 seconds behind the winner Casey Stoner.