Jorge Lorenzo reveals the favourites for 2011 MotoGP season – MotoGP news
The 2010 World Champion sees himself, having some chance for the title this season. As fact he has finished at seventh place in the final preseason test held at Qatar, which leaves a good gap between him and his former teammate Valentino Rossi, who finished
at 13th place, hindered by accidents on both night testing sessions and the lack of strength in his shoulder.
The Spanish rider of Factory Yamaha Racing team told the media, his fellow native Dani Pedrosa and the 2007 champion Casey Stoner are the toughest competitors to beat this season. Both riders are from Repsol Honda and been the pre-season intimidator for
fellow MotoGP riders.
According to him this season the favourites are Repsol Honda Team riders Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa, then comes the Factory Yamaha Racing duo defending world champion Jorge Lorenzo and 2010 rookie Ben Spies. On the parallel for second favourite spot can
be Andrea Dovizioso of Repsol Honda team and the San Carlo Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli.
Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Simoncelli are both riding on the new 2011 RC212V, the bike which conquered all three official preseason test sessions with phenomenal improvements, on the final test night last Monday RC212V was covering four positions out of
top-five places. So both riders can come out with unseen performance.
Lorenzo also added that Yamaha is a step behind the Hondas but not too far back. At tests in Sepang the gap was clean but at the final test session at Losail circuit the gap was reduced.
The Honda machine has defined the pace of performance on both night test sessions at the Qatar test with Dani Pedrosa following the leader Casey Stoner at time sheets. Stoner had three victories in last four years at this desert track of Qatar.
Rossi has moved in the empty seat of Casey Stoner in Ducati, has faced some complications but still has the talent to overcome.
“The Ducati is not in the best shape but he’s capable of getting the maximum out of it,” said Lorenzo. “Will he win races? Maybe yes, maybe not. He will have a really tough competition, maybe more than ever in his career. It’s going to be hard for him, for
me, for everyone.”
The Italian rider started his hard time back to fitness when he broke his leg during the year. He is a nine-time title winner in all categories. With no Rossi on track, Jorge Lorenzo was the man to beat. Rossi also had to go through a shoulder surgery in
November 2010, which cost his performance in the test sessions, as well on final test night he was lacking strength in upper body.
Lorenzo scored 383 points making a record for a single season, after winning nine races last season, leaving Rossi off with his 2008’s record of 373 points.
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