Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global

Lorenzo: “From the beginning, I didn’t have grip”

Jorge Lorenzo has put his subdued showing in the Australian Grand Prix down to a chronic lack of rear grip, as the outgoing MotoGP champion struggled for pace around Phillip Island.

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Cal Crutchlow, Team LCR Honda

Despite making gains from his grid slot of 12th, Lorenzo was unable to match the pace of the frontrunners and was forced to settle for a sixth place finish.

The three-time champion ended up 20 seconds behind winner Cal Crutchlow and 16 seconds adrift of factory Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi, who recovered from 15th to second.

Lorenzo said that his lack of rear grip was hurting him much more than fellow Yamaha riders Rossi and Pol Espargaro, who was fifth on the satellite Tech 3 machine, owing to his smoother style of riding.

“The temperature was more or less the same was the warm-up,” recalled Lorenzo. “I made the same lap time, 1m30.4s, but the drop of the grip of the rear has been huge.

“From the beginning I didn’t have grip, and the smaller the grip the track has, the more we struggle.

“All the problems we have on the bike multiply, and for my riding we are struggling much more than aggressive riders like Rossi or [Pol] Espargaro.”

He added: “In a track like Motegi, with grippy tarmac, we are there to fight in the top three, but as soon as we have colder and less grippy conditions, Yamaha struggles.

“And I struggle more than the other Yamaha riders because of my riding – I am smooth, so I need more rear grip than the others.”

Electronics woes

Lorenzo was also eager to point out a lack of progress made by Yamaha - which is still without a MotoGP win since Barcelona in June - with its electronics, highlighting the strides that rival factories have made.

“Our progression has been less than Honda or Suzuki, especially in the electronics,” said the Spaniard.

“That’s why we have not been winning since Montmelo [Barcelona]. With the electronics, we are more or less the same as the first races.

“Honda and Suzuka have improved in that area. That’s why you can see [Cal] Crutchlow fighting for the win, that’s why you can see Aleix Espargaro fighting for podiums.”

Additional reporting by Andrew van Leeuwen

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Hayden won’t ‘give Miller a kiss’ after Phillip Island clash
Next article Vinales will "give it everything” to beat Lorenzo in points

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global