The impulse decision which could show up a MotoGP legend

Jorge Lorenzo's comeback as a wildcard at Montmelo could either showcase his rare talent or show him up against the compromise that MotoGP nowadays requires.

Three months after officially announcing his retirement in that hastily-organised, bustling press conference in Valencia, the three-time world champion confirmed two weeks ago that he was returning to racing - specifically as a wildcard - on a Yamaha at the Catalan GP on 7 June.

His decision is a curious one, not least because of the conviction in his voice when he said goodbye and the reasons he put forward at the time.

• Lorenzo's farewell
• Jorge Lorenzo apologises for letting Honda down as he leaves MotoGP
• Jorge Lorenzo to retire from MotoGP at end of 2019 season
• From unsettling Rossi to back of the grid ignominy
• Why Honda must now split with Lorenzo
• 'Sometimes my best is disappointing' - Lorenzo on 2019 nightmare
• Honda never saw Lorenzo-Marquez as a dream team

It was widely understood how and why the 2010, 2012 and 2015 champion - the last rider to beat Marc Marquez over a season, who has nothing left to prove in MotoGP - might have reached the decision to hang up his leathers at the end of a crash-strewn and confidence-sapping season with Honda.

So bruising had his 2019 campaign been, both physically and mentally, that Lorenzo had lost the motivation to assume the risks associated with a sport played out at 350km/h.

Those who saw sense in his decision to retire at the time are now taken aback by his sudden return to the manufacturer he won each of his championships with, among them Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro.

"It is very strange," he agreed.

"We were all there in his farewell press conference and for him to announce just three months later that he will be racing again for another manufacturer seems bizarre to me. If you're retired, you're retired. But, whatever.

"I am sure Jorge will be happy with his decision and the most important thing in the world is to be happy."

The next question then must be 'What is Lorenzo really up to?' The whole thing could work out well, or not at all, but there can be no doubting the risks involved when one considers the sheer level of the elite category at present.

Lorenzo's decision to race again seems to have been made more on impulse than careful consideration, almost trivialising the core values of effort, sacrifice and total dedication that he built his career on

That much is proven by the timesheets from the preseason test in Qatar at the end of February, when just half a second separated the fastest rider (Maverick Viñales) from the man in twelfth (Valentino Rossi).

Daring to doubt Lorenzo's absurd talent is as dangerous as it would be for him to think it will be easy to return straight to the front of the pack, even if he has rediscovered his old feeling with the Yamaha, the bike that most accentuates his strengths.

And until we know the demands he is putting on himself regarding his return, it is equally difficult to know exactly what to expect from a rider with such ability.

Analysing what we do know, it seems clear that the #99 has more to lose than he has to gain. His current day-to-day life revolves around promotional events and workouts in the gym. It's not hard to envisage that his last outing on a motocross bike, flat-tracker or other form of two-wheeled activity than his test commitments with Yamaha (below) must have been last year.

His decision to race again seems to have been made more on impulse than careful consideration, almost trivialising the core values of effort, sacrifice and total dedication that he built his career on. With that in mind, if he can put together a strong weekend in Barcelona and finish near the front on the Sunday afternoon, the ripple effect will be felt far and wide.

Amongst all of this conjecture, there is one other variable to consider. How will this one-off comeback impact on Lorenzo's responsibilities as a Yamaha test rider? The Japanese factory will want to squeeze maximum value from its employees if it is to finally bring an end to the streak of dominance achieved by Marc Marquez and Honda.

A few days ago, Autosport asked lead Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales how he thought Lorenzo might adapt to his new role, and whether he felt his compatriot would be able to put the collective interest over his own personal goals. In other words, could a triple world champion could ever work merely as a servant to others?

"Jorge's signing is very good news because he has recently ridden two of our rivals' bikes," answered Vinales, opting for the increasingly popular rider strategy of 'you ask me whatever you want, and I'll answer it however I please.'