MotoGP: Lorenzo 2017 Ducati vs Lorenzo 2019 Honda or the confrontation that hurts

Coming out of an eight-year lease with Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo arrived at Ducati to take on the challenge of a motorcycle that had already exhausted Valentino Rossi author of the same transfer before returning to his first loves. It took two difficult seasons for Por Fuera to show that he could win with the red machine. Too long a period, because the patience of the boss of the Borgo Panigale brand was already exhausted. The Mallorcan therefore left for Honda. For a less complicated motorcycle and a more feasible project? Let’s compare the 2017 Lorenzo with that of 2019 to be clear…

This week, Jorge Lorenzo is in Japan to discuss and work with Honda engineers on an RC213V for everyone. What provokes the ire of a Marc Márquez who masters the beast of Tokyo like no other. Literally as figuratively…

If Por Fuera is there, it's not working. To the point that it's worse than when he was at Ducati. After the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, Lorenzo was seventh in the standings leading by 46 points, with the following results: 11th in Qatar, fall in Argentina, ninth in the Americas, third in Spain, sixth in France, eighth in Italy. In qualifying, he obtained a seventh place as his best result at Mugello and two sixteenth positions as his worst results in Argentina and France.

In 2019, he is 14th overall with 19 points, with these results: 13th in Qatar, 12th in Argentina, retirement in Texas, 12th in Spain, 11th in France, 13th in Italy. In qualifying, his best result was eighth place in France and on two occasions, in Qatar 15th and in Italy 17th, he did not take part in Q2.

So the comparison with the very difficult first year at Ducati is absolutely negative. Lorenzo is not only beaten by his teammate, but also by all the other Honda riders. He did not manage to get ahead Crutchlow than in Argentina. Jorge is certainly in Japan to try to find solutions, but it will take all his determination to emerge from this unprecedented crisis.