Movistar Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo admits that it won’t be easy to say ‘goodbye’ to the Japanese manufacturer at this weekend’s Valencian Community Grand Prix, as he gears up for his final race in Yamaha colours after nine years with the team.
Lorenzo signed a deal to step up to the premier class with the factory Yamaha squad for the 2008 season and made an impact immediately. In his first race with the team he secured pole position and took his maiden victory just a few weeks late in Portugal.
After a promising, if bruising debut season, Lorenzo emerged as a title contender to teammate Valentino Rossi in 2009. The Spaniard won four times and finished runner-up in the standings on 261 points. Lorenzo cruised to the 2010 world title after racking up nine wins and 383 points, adding a second championship two years later.
2015 didn’t get off to the best of starts for the Yamaha rider, but he valiantly fought back at the start of the European leg of the season by winning four races back-to-back. Three more victories followed and he won his third premier class title after a bitter season-long fight with Rossi.
At the end of Sunday’s 30-lap Grand Prix, Lorenzo’s time (save for a few sponsor commitments) at Yamaha will be over and he’ll make the hotly anticipated switch to Ducati in 2017. The Spaniard had been linked to the Borgo Panigale squad back in 2014, and those rumours resurfaced over the winter following the fallout from the ‘Sepang Clash’ late last season. The deal was confirmed on the eve of the Spanish Grand Prix in April.
Lorenzo wants to end his time at Yamaha on a high, and has set his sights on victory. The Spaniard has won three times at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit and has a further three podium finishes to his credit. He also holds the race and qualifying lap records. After finishing third last time out in Malaysia, Lorenzo has an 18-point lead over Suzuki’s Maverick Vinales in their battle for third in the standings, a battle the triple MotoGP World Champion intends to win.
“The season is almost over and finally we arrive to Valencia, where I have some good memories, especially last year when we were able to achieve our goal and become World Champion again,” he said.
“Valencia is going to be a very special race for me because after nine years with the Yamaha family I have to say goodbye and it won‘t be easy. I had a lot of good feelings with Yamaha and together we won a lot of races and titles… I would like to finish this season in the best way possible and that‘s with a victory, so I will do my best to try to win in Cheste and I will try to secure third position in the championship as well.”
Comments.
Loading comments…