Jorge Lorenzo says championship battle still unpredictable

Pedrosa's championship ambitions took a massive blow when he was wiped out on the first lap at Misano, ending his run of two straight wins and allowing Lorenzo to pull 38 points clear.

Lorenzo however was unable to match his rival at Aragon, and consequently had his lead trimmed by five points.

Pedrosa can now claim the title if he wins every race and Lorenzo finishes third or lower - a situation complicated by Honda's recent superiority and by Casey Stoner's return at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Lorenzo said he was focussing on each race rather than the championship picture, but admitted it was still too close to call.

"In my first two times in 250s, and then [2010 in MotoGP], I have been in a very similar situation: always with a small or big difference - it depends how you see it - to second," he said.

"Every time I could handle it and finished by winning [the championship].

"I don't know what is going to happen this time but I don't want to think too much about that; I just concentrate on every race, on riding and getting the best result and being as fast as I can be."

Lorenzo added that Pedrosa has grown as a force over 2012. The Honda rider only missed the podium once in the opening seven races, but didn't triumph until round eight when he defeated team-mate Stoner at the Sachsenring.

"Dani started in a good way, but for him it was difficult to win races no? [He was] always on the podium but not winning; myself and Casey were winning all of them," he explained.

"But then Casey crashed at the Sachsenring and Dani won, and there the championship got closer between us as a trio.

"I think Dani changed a bit at this moment and started to think about the possibility of winning. He [was on a] high and rode even better in the next races."