MotoGP, Lorenzo: “Yamaha is no longer the most complete bike”

Jorge Lorenzo has enjoyed an extended holiday in Dubai and has just returned to Lugano. “I wanted to stay for 20 days, but we kept changing the return date because it was so nice and hot there”, the Majorcan commented during an interview with Sky Sport. But in reality the entire 2021 season risks becoming a long holiday for Jorge Lorenzo, who has confirmed he’s not doing any test riding.

"It didn’t work out with Aprilia"

“There was contact with Massimo Rivola, I’ve been his friend since he was in Ferrari. We sat down but the negotiations didn’t work out. They decided to stick with the riders they have. For now, my path as test rider is at a stand still”.

Jorge Lorenzo doesn’t seem too worried though. “If I can’t do it, I won’t lose sleep over it. I have many projects in mind for the future, much calmer and less stressful than being a MotoGP rider, but exciting and new, and I finally have time to do them.

“Another possible path is to do some commentary for TV and I don’t rule out the possibility of offering my experience to a young rider, perhaps becoming a rider manager in the future”, adds Lorenzo.

"I’ve always been a good test rider"

Asked about what he thinks of the fact that Viñales and Quartararo have often said that the last competitive Yamaha was that of 2016 (Lorenzo’s last year at Yamaha), the Majorcan underlines his qualities as a test rider.

“I’ve always been a very sensitive rider and can immediately understand whether new elements are good or bad. I’ve had this sensitivity since I was little, because my dad had me riding many different bikes. Yamaha trusted in me up until 2016 and we came up with a very good evolution, with the idea of making the bike easy for the rider, not nervous but rider friendly.

“When I moved to Ducati, other riders tried to develop this evolution, but I wouldn’t know if the current Yamahas are better or worse than in 2016. Theoretically, they should be better, but from the outside, in comparison with other manufacturers, the Yamaha is no longer the most complete bike, as it was when I was there”.

"Rossi with Petronas came as a surprise"

Jorge Lorenzo also touches on Rossi’s move to Petronas.

“Yamaha’s decision to move Rossi to Petronas surprised me, I didn’t expect it. Valentino continuing to race but not with a factory team never crossed my mind. But in the end little will change for Valentino. We’ve seen that Quartararo and Morbidelli have scored similar, or better results than the factory bikes but, from a media standpoint, it’s surprising news".

"But in the end Yamaha must look to the future. I remember when I signed with Yamaha in 2007 for 2008, Yamaha needed a plan B, in case Valentino decided to move to F1 or stop racing. So Yamaha signed me and now that Valentino is 41, Yamaha has to look to the future and the future lies with the younger guys like Quartararo”, continues Lorenzo.

MotoGP, Brivio reveals: “Suzuki wanted Valentino Rossi”

"Ducati and Dovizioso, a successful marriage"

Lastly, the Majorcan expresses his opinion about the split between Ducati and Dovizioso.

“When a relationship breaks down, it’s normal for there to be friction between the parties, each blames the other and there are always two versions of the story. Andrea defends his pride and image and Ducati does the same with Dall’Igna".

"I think it was a successful marriage, for both Andrea and Ducati, as they were back fighting for the title after a few years, so both parties should be happy. But internal friction, which we can’t understand from the outside, clearly led to the separation”, concludes Lorenzo.

Translated by Heather Watson

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