Jorge Lorenzo believes the characteristics of the Motegi circuit offer him a big opportunity to secure his maiden MotoGP win as a Ducati rider in this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Spaniard led the Aragon Grand Prix for 15 laps on his Desmosedici before dropping to third behind the Repsol Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa.
While disappointed to have led for so long and still be denied a first win of his Ducati career, the Spaniard expected to struggle at a track which has not suited the Italian manufacturer over the years.
However, the stop-start nature of the Motegi circuit – as well as his love for it – has kept Lorezno’s hopes of challenging for victory high.
“Aragon was not the ideal time for our bike, especially in the last few years,” Lorenzo, who has three premier class wins at Motegi to his credit, said.
“The only year they’ve (Ducati) been very competitive here was 2010, but then the last five years was not the best track.
“But Motegi can be (better suited to the GP17), so I have a lot of hopes for this track.
“It’s one of my favourite tracks, lot of hard braking, lots of acceleration, so there we can try again to fight for the victory.”
Lorenzo praised the efforts of Ducati following the Aragon race in helping him adjust his style to the bike at each circuit and says he feels more ‘natural’ on the GP17 – though he concedes he still needs more time to fully adapt to the bike’s strong points.
“You know, the important thing is we are progressing,” the Spaniard enthused.
“Especially more from my side, knowing more the bike, knowing the way to get the maximum in the race for the Ducati.
“And the team is giving me always some little details that in making my life easy and we are progressing very quickly.
“I’m trying to get the maximum from the bike, of the strong points; that is braking later and opening the throttle much later than I used to do.
“But, I still need time to understand that. Each track I need less time because it’s more natural, but I still need this (time).
“That’s why I need the full weekend in the dry, to get the maximum still.
“But from the other side, the team is giving me small details for more easy way, especially in the middle of the corner at maximum angle. That is where we struggle the most.
“I think we can improve more, and each time we are faster and faster in that area.”
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