Movistar Yamaha are reportedly blocking Jorge Lorenzo from taking part in a test with Ducati at Jerez at the end of next month, despite the fact that he will ride for the Italian manufacturer for the first time at the post-Valencia test on November 15 & 16.
In an interview with Italian publication Gazzeta dello Sport, Ducati Sporting Director Davide Tardozzi confirmed that they had approached Yamaha to ask if they could allow Lorenzo to test at Jerez from 23-24 November, but they found themselves ‘facing a wall.’
Lorenzo is still under contract with Yamaha until 31 December, so the Japanese manufacturer is within their contractual rights to block such a move. However, Tardozzi confirmed that Andrea Iannone has been granted permission to test for Suzuki before the year is out and Yamaha are taking Maverick Vinales with them to Malaysia for a private test of the 2017 YZR-M1 at the end of next month.
“We didn’t even think about it (blocking Iannone from testing with Suzuki) said Tardozzi. “We believe that in a environment of sportsmanship these things should be common.”
No reason has been offered by Yamaha as to why they are blocking Lorenzo from testing with his future team, and we likely won’t get the Spaniard’s thoughts on the situation until he is under contract with Ducati on 1 January 2017.
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