Silverstone MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo says immediate attack only chance

The pair turned qualifying into a scintillating two-way battle for pole, trading record fastest laps multiple times before Marquez eventually prevailed.

Rather than shadow Marquez, Lorenzo believes the strength of the Honda bike means he has no other option than to attack from the outset and try to break clear.

While the same strategy failed last time out at Brno, Lorenzo said a lack of alternatives - coupled with the fact Marquez could not match his long-run simulation in practice four - convinced him it was the only viable route to victory.

"Maybe pushing all the race, in every corner, is not the best for the energy - maybe in terms of physically saving energy it is better to follow them [Honda]," Lorenzo said.

"But with this bike I believe the better strategy is to try and go away.

"It is almost impossible to overtake them under braking, because they have a bike that permits them to brake so late, and it is impossible to overtake them on the straight, because they are faster.

"When you only gain speed in the corners and you are losing on the straight and under braking, it is difficult.

"Of course I have a good start, a good first lap, so I think it [an immediate attack] is a good idea to try."

Lorenzo said he could be open to changing his approach should it fail at Silverstone, or should Yamaha improve its competitiveness in future races.

"If it is not possible [to win at Silverstone], maybe we change strategy," he said.

"We have to be competitive here - if we are more or less the same level as them, we can think about changing. You never know what will happen - I've never tried following them [before]."