Lorenzo fired up for home victory

The world championship leader scored back-to-back victories at Jerez in the 250 class but could only manage third at the track in the MotoGP race last year.

"It's nice to be at my track, in my country and to have fun at this race because it is very special for the Spanish riders," he said in Jerez on Thursday. "For me it is also special to have the chance to score a podium and I think we have this.

"We are working to try to improve our performance with the Bridgestones. This is already fine, because we had the victory in Japan, but I also think we are at a point where we can still improve."

Lorenzo admitted having tested on the Bridgestone the in pre-season had also given him a boost, as he continues his acclimatisation to the Japanese rubber.

"It is an advantage for the riders (new to Bridgestone) because to have the settings of the bike, having tested here, to know how to ride on these tyres on this circuit," he said. "It is a little advantage we didn't have in Japan.

"We hope to have the opportunity to ride every practice in the dry and we hope it will be fine. It is good to look up in the sky and see the sun, because we are getting used to clouds! It is nice to see this weather and we hope for more of the same."