Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Jorge Lorenzo wary of 'struggle' at Argentina MotoGP round

Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo insists he heads to Argentina for this weekend's second MotoGP round with his "feet on the ground" despite his imposing start to the year

Lorenzo topped four of the nine days of pre-season testing, then won the opener at Qatar from pole position, also setting the fastest lap of the race.

It came after he saw off a stern challenge from Ducati, whose riders Andrea Iannone and Andrea Dovizioso enjoyed a straight-line speed advantage, and as 2.387 seconds covered the top four at the chequered flag.

However, given MotoGP's off-season change to a control ECU and Michelin tyres, Lorenzo says his Qatar form counts for nothing at Termas de Rio Hondo, where he finished third in 2014 and fifth last year while ill.

"After the victory in Qatar and the good feelings on track, I now want to race at a circuit where in the past we struggled a bit," he said.

"We started the championship in a perfect manner but we still need to understand what the behaviour of the bike is like for different track layouts.

"I want to check if the bike with these electronics and tyres works well everywhere.

"To kick off the season like we did in Qatar is a good way to get confidence and work even harder to try to fight again for the victory here."

Team-mate Valentino Rossi won the first two races of 2015 in Qatar and Argentina and was at the tail of the lead pack at the new campaign started.

Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli believes the this weekend's circuit "suits our YZR-M1 well", but admits that tyres will be the big question mark.

Lorenzo credited his Qatar victory to a late tyre change, but that was helped by the fact MotoGP had completed three days of pre-season testing at the circuit a fortnight earlier.

"We have already gained more knowledge on how well Michelin's tyre life lasts over long distance from the first race," Meregalli said.

"It will be interesting to see how the tyres will perform at this circuit where we haven't done any testing yet."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Why MotoGP has to ban winglets
Next article Marc Marquez expects to be booed after MotoGP row with Valentino Rossi

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe