Breaking news
MotoGP Qatar February testing
Lorenzo fears first Honda races could be "difficult"
Jorge Lorenzo has admitted that his first MotoGP races with Honda are likely to be "difficult", despite making improvements on the second day of testing in Qatar.
David Gruz
Published: Feb 25, 2019, 11:57 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Lorenzo was only 21st on the opening day of the Qatar test, the three-time MotoGP champion saying he was still "very far" from feeling comfortable on his new RC213V bike.
He moved up to 18th on Sunday, improving his laptime by 1.3s and almost halving the deficit to the lead rider.
Lorenzo said he made a step forward regarding his comfort on the bike, but added that he is far from feeling perfect, and reckons the first few races of the season are likely to be tough.
"Today we improved the ergonomics of the bike," said Lorenzo, who is still recovering from breaking his wrist in a training crash last month.
"We still have some way to go to feel perfect on the bike, but I feel better. I get less tired. At the end of the day the wrist was still painful so I need to stop before and do not so many laps in the last hour.
"But apart from that I feel better physically and we improved the bike because we worked on some set-ups. In terms of feeling, working on the bike, big step."
He added: "The position is not fantastic but the important thing is we reduced the gap to the fastest one.
"In terms of riding by myself, improving the setting, improving the ergonomy, for sure we’re gonna get closer.
"We don’t have so much time, just one day [left] of the winter. Maybe the first races will be difficult, but little by little, with patience, we will get there."
Lorenzo revealed that he's been able to check the data of his teammate Marc Marquez and also LCR Honda's Cal Crutchlow, and that he is "worse in almost everything" for the moment.
He said: "All the days you check [the data], not only Marc but also Crutchlow. A lot of difference.
"He knows how to ride this bike and he rides it very well. For the moment, I am worse in almost everything, so little by little I will get closer.
"It’s completely different [riding style] to my last [bike]. You need to ride differently. Hopefully it will be better for my riding, we will see in the future."
Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont
Jorge Lorenzo, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Yamaha top speed deficit leaves Rossi "worried"
Next article Crutchlow "not even close" to being ready for Qatar
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
David Gruz
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
World Superbike
World Superbike Feb 21, 2020
Honda reveals 2020 World Superbike challenger
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
World Superbike
World Superbike Feb 18, 2020
Redding: Bautista cost himself 2019 WSBK crown
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
MotoGP
MotoGP
Sepang February testing
Feb 13, 2020
Espargaro: Aprilia showed podium pace at Sepang
More from
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez less explosive now, but smarter than ever
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
3 mo
Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez less explosive now, but smarter than ever
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo's partnership cools down after early enthusiasm
MotoGP
MotoGP
Brazil GP
7 mo
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo's partnership cools down after early enthusiasm
How Jorge Lorenzo is pushing Maverick Vinales beyond his limits in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing launch
8 mo
How Jorge Lorenzo is pushing Maverick Vinales beyond his limits in MotoGP
More from
Honda HRC
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 d
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
4 d
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
8 d
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
Latest news
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
4 min
Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe