22-year old Jorge Lorenzo
joined the Fiat Yamaha Team in 2008 as double 250cc World Champion, having won
the title for the past two years with Aprilia. Following his outstanding debut
year, Lorenzo came of age in 2009, winning four races and pushing his team-mate
Valentino Rossi to the limit throughout a superb season. The Spaniard took the
teams first victory of the year at Yamahas home race in Japan and
he went on to take further wins at Le Mans, Indianapolis and, for the second
year in a row, Portugal.