Lorenzo not made to 'feel good' at Yamaha, says Ducati's Dall'Igna

Lorenzo has insisted his decision to leave Yamaha after nine seasons and join Ducati next year is motivated purely by a need for new challenges.

The reigning world champion had often expressed a desire to spend his whole MotoGP career at Yamaha, even through difficult intra-team situations such as Valentino Rossi's initial insistence on a wall between their crews in the garage in their first stint together and the fractious rows that overshadowed last year's title fight.

Suggested to Dall'Igna by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that Lorenzo appeared "a fish out of water" at Yamaha, he replied: "There have been many events that did not make him feel good, despite many victories.

"That leaves a mark on you."

Dall'Igna, whose relationship with Lorenzo dates back to when he arrived in the 125cc championship to race a Derbi in 2002, said the "harmony and respect" between them helped rapidly sort his Ducati deal.

"Honestly, with Jorge everything has been clear from the beginning," he said.

"Talks haven't been complicated, there were details and considerations to ponder upon, but finding a common line was easy."

Ducati must now decide which of Andrea Dovizioso and Andrea Iannone it will retain alongside Lorenzo.

Dall'Igna predicted a decision either before or "immediately after" the Catalunya Grand Prix at Barcelona at the start of June.

"I have a fine relationship with both and with their teams, it's not an easy choice," he said.

"We'll begin talks, I know what they have done at Ducati and I give things the right consideration.

"I've always said I don't want excuses. I don't want to think that I don't have the riders, because at the moment I have two that in my opinion are really good, potential champions.

"But it's true that Iannone has never won the title, while Dovizioso did in 125cc but never again.

"I want a rider that has been MotoGP world champion in order to take away from me and Ducati any excuses."

Rossi had hinted that Lorenzo would not have the courage to go to Ducati, a team where the Italian struggled in 2011 and '12.

Dall'Igna, who joined Ducati in 2013, said the team had changed greatly since then.

"I respect Valentino's reasoning, but now conditions are different from his times," he argued.

"We are technically stronger and organised, we have what's needed to aim high."

Translation by Michele Lostia