Jorge Lorenzo will help Ducati team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in his MotoGP title bid in Valencia, but admits it will be ‘very difficult’ to offer any assistance to the Italian.
Dovizioso comes into the title-deciding Valencia Grand Prix 21 points adrift of standings leader Marc Marquez, and needs to win the 30-lap race on Sunday and hope the Honda rider is outside of the top 11 to secure a maiden premier class crown.
Ducati tried to employ team orders in Malaysia with a coded message to Lorenzo to allow Dovizioso through – though the Spaniard, who finished second to the Italian in the end after a late error, revealed after the race he did not see the instruction.
While happy to help his team-mate and aware of the importance of a world championship for Ducati, Lorenzo is unsure he will be of much use to Dovizioso given the Italian’s large deficit in the standings.
“Yeah, of course,” Lorenzo said when asked about helping Dovizioso.
“I say this from the middle of the championship, because the journalists as me this very, very soon, and I say in the beginning this was still too soon to do this.
“But, of course, now it’s not too soon.
“It’s very difficult if I can do something, because the situation is much better for Marc and is not so simple for Dovi.
“But, obviously, if I am in the top positions and fighting for the victory, I will have to check the (pit) board and my dashboard.
“I understand the importance of the world title, but, I repeat, it’s very difficult that I can do something.”
Zarco hopes pressure for title protagonists will offer him podium chance
Tech3 Yamaha’s Johann Zarco hopes the pressure on the two title protagonists, and in particular Marquez, will allow him to challenge for a third MotoGP podium.
The Frenchman made his MotoGP debut at the Valencia circuit in a test one year ago, and believes he arrives at the final round of the season a ‘neutral’ rider thanks to the experience gained over the last 12 months.
He feels this, and the possibility of Honda rider Marquez offering less resistance in the race in order to protect his title bid, could see him fighting for the rostrum once more.
“I test the bike here for the first time (last year) and was so many new things and almost scary, because there was no limit on the bike and so much power,” he said.
“This year, I come really neutral, see what I can do on Friday and Saturday, and let’s see if I’m fighting in the first positions.
“I would like to have this possibility.
“There is Marc and Dovi, they have some pressure. I mean, Dovi needs to win but Marc maybe needs to control a little bit more, and I think that can give a little more opportunity to have a podium.”
