Jorge Lorenzo says his teammate Valentino Rossi has lost pace following Ducati years – MotoGP news
Jorge Lorenzo thinks Ducati years have cast a pall on the true pace of his Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi.
In November, Rossi had admitted that he had learnt nothing during his two-year disappointing spell with Ducati. Not only could the Italian learn nothing, he could not also clinch a single Grand Prix victory during two consecutive MotoGP seasons. 3 podium
finishes were all Rossi could muster in his Ducati career. Rossi’s Ducati performance was a total contrast of his performance with Yamaha. Riding for Yamaha Factory Racing, over 7 MotoGP seasons, the Italian had won 46 Grand Prix rounds. 4 out of 6 championship
titles in the premier class came for Rossi while he was with Yamaha Factory Racing.
According to Lorenzo, Rossi’s worst performance in his Ducati career is attributed to Ducati’s ‘complicated’ bikes. He further added that Yamaha has always suited Rossi since he won four MotoGP World Champion titles riding the Yamaha YZR-M1. Lorenzo hopes
that following his return to Yamaha, Rossi will be able to lift up his performance and will once again become a pacemaker.
“Its true, the Ducati bike seems to be very complicated,” Lorenzo admitted earlier this month at the Race of Champions. “Only Casey [Stoner] won a championship and races with it, so for sure it's not easy. Vale is a strong rider, and really complete, but
he couldn't [win] with it. Maybe with Yamaha he returns again to a high level.”
Lorenzo has claimed several times that Rossi’s return to Yamaha will be a big motivational factor for him and it will prove beneficial for himself and Yamaha Factory Racing. Lorenzo has recapitulated the same idea once again.
“Vale coming again to Yamaha is good for the brand because we [will be an] even more competitive team than last year,” Lorenzo said. “He has a very high motivation to keep fighting for wins, so I'm really looking forward to his performance on the Yamaha.”
Rossi will have to prove a point in the upcoming MotoGP season if he is to revive his name as one of the greatest riders of our time.
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