Lorenzo thinks he can win this year

The Spaniard, a two-time 250cc champion, finished in second place in his debut race in Qatar and then in third in yesterday's Spanish Grand Prix.

Lorenzo started from pole position in both races.

The Yamaha rider reckons he will be able to win a race this season, although he admits his targets remain unchanged.

"I think that we will win a race before next year," Lorenzo was quoted as saying by Spanish daily AS. "Although I still maintain that's not our goal. Our goal is to learn, so for a rookie I'm doing very well."

Lorenzo, second in championship, also confessed he did not expect to be in such a strong position so early.

"No, if they had told two or three months ago that I would be in this situation, I would not have believed it," he added.

The Spaniard, who finished behind Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi in Jerez, believes he could have been more competitive had he made a better start.

"I think with a good start I would have been on top and I could have fought for victory. I also have to say that I had problems with my forearms, but that's not a excuse because it's my own body."