Lorenzo concedes "I was just slower" at Assen

The two-time champion’s impressive run of four successive victories came to a shuddering halt in the Netherlands, as Lorenzo finished a distant third and conceded nine points to his victorious teammate Rossi in the title race.

The 28-year-old admitted that his pace through the high-speed sweeps of the second and fourth sectors of the TT circuit was simply not enough to keep up with the leaders, and said that third place was a good result in the circumstances.

“I knew I had a difficult situation [starting from eighth on the grid], but luckily I made a good start and I had a good first corner, and after half a lap I was already third,” recalled Lorenzo during the post-race press conference.

“I did three or four laps [at the pace of Rossi and Marquez], but then little by little they started upping the pace, especially through the two sectors where I have never been competitive.

“I tried, but I lost so much in these two sectors with high-speed chicanes because I couldn’t change direction quickly enough.

“Marc improved his pace this weekend and Valentino was really competitive from the first practice; I was just slower.

“But we saved a difficult situation [by finishing third].”

Sachsenring to suit Lorenzo more

Lorenzo nonetheless remains optimistic of his chances of recapturing his previous form, with the upcoming race at the Sachsenring starting a sequence of more favourable circuits for the Spaniard.

“I’ve been close to winning [in Germany] two or three times, but I’ve never won there. You never know what happens; maybe this year is the time.

“We shouldn’t have the same problems there as here. We are just 10 points behind Valentino and then I think we’ll arrive at better tracks for us [later in the year].”