Time has stopped in MotoGP as elsewhere and everyone is confined to their homes. But the reflection continues, projects are imagined for the future, because there will be an after. In the case of Jorge Lorenzo, we almost border on the gamberge. Retired last November, he accepted the position of test rider at Yamaha, which did not really does laugh Honda who had believed in his good faith to stop everything... Well, testing is not playing... But here he is registered as a guest at the next Catalan Grand Prix. And maybe more ? Even Por Fuera doesn't know it himself. But asking yourself this question isn't already answering it?
Jorge Lorenzo had sworn in Valencia that he would no longer risk his health and physical integrity in a MotoGP. But here he is on the entry sheet for the next one Grand Prix of Catalonia. A meeting which, incidentally, could finally launch the season: “ we are talking about June/July to start the championship. If we had to start in Barcelona, I would start with the others because I will have a wildcard there » the Majorcan is already delighting. Incidentally, this idea of opening hostilities in Barcelona is widely spread in the paddock. The sporting director of Ducati, Paolo ciabatti, had already put it on the table.
Would starting like this with the others whet his appetite? “ I think the more miles I do on the bike, the more I can help the engineers and riders. I would like to do as many tests as possible, to be honest. I'm curious to see how my weekend will go. We imagine that I could arrive without having done any other tests, without having understood the bike well and without having trained a lot from a physical point of view… But nothing is impossible in MotoGP, even if my role is to help the team »
He will therefore not come to be a simple figure, or even just to support the other pilots. Yamaha … “ Barcelona is the track where I go fast but where I can also contribute more to the development of the bike. This is why with Yamaha we chose it. We will do the three days of the weekend and also the test on Monday. »
Back in the saddle again 💪@ lorenzo99 will be riding aboard the Yamaha YZR-M1 as a @MotoGP Wild Card at the Catalunya GP 🤩#MonsterYamaha | #MotoGP | #CatalanGP pic.twitter.com/N7DgXV18rN
- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (@YamahaMotoGP) March 5, 2020
The five-time World Champion therefore has a precise idea of what he intends to do at Barcelona. And if everything went wonderfully well, could we see a resounding return to competition? “ It is obvious that having Champions on the starting grid is a good thing for the show and for the interest of the public. But you know that I made a decision in November and this choice, 98%, is final. Even though in life anything can happen and we humans change our opinions constantly… Anything can happen but right now my choice is this: 100% of my fans would like me to come back, because they started to love motorcycles thanks to me and the passion I passed on to them. To be honest, there are others who are also happy to see me happy right now. Come on... It's almost a final choice and then you have other drivers to admire and encourage. »
So is it a definitive “no”? Surely not ! Because Jorge Lorenzo adds: " the Petronas team is an interesting place and Valentino will have the doors open there if he wants to continue as we all know. Obviously, if you plan to race with Yamaha you should keep this in mind as it is an officially supported professional reality. Today my decision is made but if there really must be this possibility, then it is natural that I can only come back with a Yamaha. So this place must be taken into consideration. » We must convince ourselves of this, Jorge Lorenzo didn't give up anything.
