The Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang could well mark the crowning of world champions in the MotoGP and Moto2 category.
Lorenzo leads on 297 points and not even Japanese GP winner Casey Stoner, who is third on 180 points, can overtake the Spaniard with three rounds more after Sepang.
Meanwhile, Toni Elias is also on the brink of bagging his first-ever world title after having a substantial lead on 249 points in the Moto2 championships.
Elias needs to just finish ahead of second-place Julian Simon (168 points) to take the crown in Sepang. If Lorenzo takes the title in Sepang, it will be the second time the Spaniard emerges as world champion in Malaysia after taking the 250cc title in 2007, donning a boxing robe and gloves to celebrate the occasion.
Spaniard Nicolas Terol has 228 points and he leads Japanese GP winner Marc Marques (222) and Pol Espargaro (215).
MotoGP moves south this week for the second leg of its eastern flyaway tour at Sepang in Malaysia. After the exciting battle between Rossi and Lorenzo on Sunday in Japan, this race presents the first championship ‘match-point’ for Jorge Lorenzo, who can seal his maiden premier-class title this Sunday.
Lorenzo lost out narrowly to his team-mate at Motegi and finished off the podium for only the second time this season, but his focus lies entirely with the championship and he knows he needs just a handful of points on Sunday to become 2010 MotoGP World Champion. Rossi has a love affair with the Sepang track which has seen him take five wins and the Italian names it as one of his very favourite tracks, along with Phillip Island.
Lorenzo added: “We are team-mates, I am fighting for the Riders’ Championship but we are both fighting for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championship as well and we have to remember this. Motogp.com
Yamaha management have told Valentino Rossi that he was too aggressive in his defence of third position against team-mate and title leader Jorge Lorenzo in the closing stages of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
“After the race, Jorge came to us and asked our opinion of Rossi’s behaviour during the race. Besides me, there was Furusawa and another two people from Yamaha.” Yamaha Motor Racing Managing Director of Lin Jarvis said.
We expect our riders to race with a higher margin of safety and they were too close today.”