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Lorenzo: Points gap to Marquez could be "much worse"

Reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has said that, despite two bad races in a row, his gap to points leader Marc Marquez is not a huge problem.

Podium: second place Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Podium: second place Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing just before Andrea Iannone, Ducati Team crashes in to him
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha Factory Racing
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Lorenzo was crashed out by Andrea Iannone at Catalunya when running fifth, then and struggled massively in wet conditions at Assen, limping home in 10th place.

Asked if those past two races were disastrous for his championship hopes, he said: "Can be much worse - being the fastest one like Rossi and crash and have zero points. I was the slowest one, but at least I have six points.

"I have 18 more than Rossi, who is third, and I could minimise a little bit, even if Marquez finished second, the points [gap] to the leader.

"Before Le Mans, I have I think 19 points or 20 points of disadvantage and now I have 24.

"The last two races, very bad, Montmelo I lose 9-10 points because I could finish sixth or seventh. And here I could at least gain six points that could be important for the championship - because 2013, for example, I lose the championship just by four points. So you have to be positive."

Lorenzo did, however, concede that he would be in trouble if another wet race happened and he still had no feeling with the front tyre.

"Let's see - in the future if it rains, with the softer front tyre, if I can feel it better. If not, will be not simple to change radically my riding style."

Marquez "lucky" to crash in practice

Having settled for second place after a lengthy fight with Rossi at Catalunya, Marquez likewise coasted home as runner-up at Assen, not taking risks to catch surprise winner Jack Miller.

Asked whether Marquez's more calculated approach made him a bigger threat for the title, Lorenzo said: "Of course, this is the fourth championship for him in MotoGP, so he has more experience than the first year.

"Probably he's been lucky to crash a lot of times in the practice but not in the race - but yeah, he looks a bit more conservative when he cannot win."

Lorenzo then insisted that Marquez was not immune to mistakes - and that even his practice crashes could have serious repercussions.

"The track [conditions at Assen] was very complicated, and he stayed on the bike. But for example [on Saturday] he almost crashed in a big moment - if he crashed that time, he could've injured himself very badly.

"So you never know, when you can crash, you never know this year if you can injure yourself in a big moment or in a stupid moment, so we cannot stay that Marquez cannot crash or cannot make mistakes.

"We are always at the limit and everyone can make mistakes or get zero points, like Rossi did today."

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