Lorenzo: no guarantee of matching MotoGP Assen heroics in Germany

The world champion finished fifth in the Dutch TT despite breaking his collarbone in practice.

Lorenzo missed qualifying to fly to Spain for surgery on the injury, then returned to take a shock result that kept him within nine points of championship leader Dani Pedrosa.

But Yamaha rider Lorenzo says this weekend's German Grand Prix is still going to be a major physical challenge.

"Sachsenring is going to be a little tough for me after the crash at Assen," he said.

"It is true in Holland we achieved a stunning result for me, the team and also the championship but I have to be realistic and I have still a long way to go for my collarbone to recover.

"I made a huge effort to race at Assen and finally I could manage a really difficult weekend getting an astonishing fifth position. The situation is still that I need more time to fix the injury though.

"I won't be at 100 per cent in Germany but I'm pretty confident I can make a good weekend. At least I have had almost 10 days to stay calm and improve a bit my physical condition.

"It will be difficult to compete another time but for sure I will push even harder than in Holland."

Yamaha team manager Wilco Zeelenberg was more optimistic, suggesting Lorenzo can improve on Assen.

"In Germany maybe it could be a little better for us," said Zeelenberg.

"This circuit is not as fast as Assen and I think it is going to be easier for him to ride; it's smoother with slow corners.

"The only problem is Jorge's collarbone: it is still mending and he won't be in a perfect shape.

"Anyway, for sure his physical condition will be better than in Holland and I guess he will be aiming to fight for the podium."