This post-qualifying press conference for the Prix de Catalunya brought together Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Dani Pedrosa, Johann Zarco and Brad Binder.
The questions were of course focused on sad news, but what should only have been decency and contemplation sometimes gave way to certain much less noble behaviors...
In order to avoid any abusive journalistic interpretation, we offer you here a “raw” translation of the entirety of Jorge Lorenzo’s words who complained a lot about the modification of turn #10.
A difficult day but a first line in the end….
“I think the important thing of the weekend is what happened yesterday. Unfortunately, we lost Luis, and everything else is secondary.
After what happened, the Safety Commission decided yesterday to change the turns, with some drivers, and I regret a little not to have been there, as leader of the championship and reigning champion, but I don't I received no communication to go there and I don't understand why we weren't there, all 21 drivers together, to make such an important decision as changing the route.
Disappointed, but that's how it is, and in these conditions we have to manage to get the best possible result tomorrow. Obviously, it's not easy for us because turning into first gear is not the best for our bike and it's much more beneficial for Honda. But you know, I think that safety is very important and in my opinion, turn #12 should not have been modified just yesterday, but much earlier, because we needed a lot more gravel to stop the driver and the motorbike. But in my opinion, turn #9 wasn't that bad for us to change it, but we couldn't be there and decide. »
Was it a mistake not to have warned you about the Safety Commission and what other solution would you have preferred since you are struggling with this one?
“Well, you know, normally we all have the opportunity to go to the Security Commission, but yesterday what happened, so it took place in a special place, because the Security Commission is normally held in the Dorna offices, whereas yesterday it took place in the bend, and I didn't know it was happening in that area. I also think Dani and Valentino didn't go. It was too late when someone told us. In my opinion, I think it should be the normal procedure to communicate on a special occasion for such an important decision. Not only drivers, but also teams should have the opportunity to at least give their opinion. As I told you before, turn 12 should have been changed way before now, but sometimes you only change things when something like this happens. But for example, turn 9 (editor's note: 10), it was not necessary for me to change it, and these two changes ultimately make our life more difficult. If it's just for safety, I agree to change, but in my opinion, it was not worth changing turn 9 (editor's note: 10). »
Everyone knows there is a Security Commission. Valentino said “I knew there was (a commission), I didn’t go there, I’m not complaining too much”…
“If I had known they wanted to change the two corners, I obviously would have gone for it. For such an important decision, on a special occasion, I would obviously have gone there to at least understand how we could improve security and give my opinion. But I didn't know anything about that. I thought they were going to keep the layout the same since changing these sorts of things after starting the weekend never happens.
Well of course, that’s how it is and the important thing is what happened yesterday; the rest…
Ok, they decided that, and we have to accept it, but in my opinion we should have been all together, all the drivers, for such an important change. »
How do you feel about the last chicane and why is your speed at the end of the straight greater even though you start slower?
“It's slower, you have to use the first at #9 (editor's note: 10) and also at 12/13. And you have to adapt with a completely different style; much more braking and direction changes. »
Honestly, would you have canceled the GP?
“It was a very difficult decision. They told us that they called his mom and she said that probably Luis would have wanted us to continue for the weekend and so Direction decided to continue, so we have to run. »
With the new layout, Valentino points the problem to the Medium tire, you, more to the (?). Do you have any solutions to improve your pace during the warm up?
“I think the pace is not bad. I'm carried with a worn and hard rear tire in FP4 so when you stop and put the covers on with this Hard option, when you start again, this tire is like a rock, like stone. There's no more grip, it's a disaster and that's why I was so slow in FP4. But with a new tire we don't have as much of a problem. Yesterday, of course, T4 was the sector where I had the most advantage over the others. Now that is no longer the case, or even I am losing a little. But you know, the race is very long, anything can happen, the decision about the tires will be made tomorrow, a good start will be important, so... we go there with a good mentality and we will see what happens. If we can't win, we have to finish the race in the best possible position. »
During the tests, we saw a lot of activity with a machine under a tarpaulin. What was happening?
“Just normal testing, to improve the bike and try the tires. »
Photo credit : MotoGP.com
