The Jorge Lorenzo case will undoubtedly be taken into account when life can return to normal, which will also mean a MotoGP season finally launched. Especially if the start of hostilities takes place in June in Barcelona. In this case, Por Fuera, registered in the competition as a wildcard, will not have the handicap of finding himself facing opponents already in the rhythm. A card to play with a Yamaha which naturally suits him quite well and on a track which has brought him more satisfaction than disappointment in his career. A situation that could be surprising from the person who announced his retirement in November. But not everyone was taken by surprise…
Jorge Lorenzo accept it perfectly: we have the right to change our minds. It is the prerogative of man, he says, so that seeing him as a test pilot Yamaha in 2020 after announcing at the end of 2019 to Honda his retirement is not out of place. And it's not the fact that he will return as a competitor at the Catalan Grand Prix with a wildcard that will change his approach to things.
That being said, the turnaround is not surprising to those who know Por Fuera well. This is precisely the case of Paolo ciabatti, which, in addition, had its sources before the announcement… “ This didn't completely surprise me: I already knew in December that he had the idea of coming back. The decision to terminate the contract with Honda was taken following the accidents, the lack of feeling with this bike, the difficulty in riding safely, with embarrassing performances for a champion like him. But he still had the desire to ride, so he accepted Yamaha's offer to become a test rider. Let's just say I didn't know, but I expected it. »
Listen carefully to the sports director of Ducati, we detect as a premeditation on the part of the Majorcan. With this plan: announce his retirement to get rid of the contract Honda which would lock him up for another season before relaunching once his freedom was regained... As a result, HRC would be entitled to bite its fingers for not having put a clause preventing it from going to see the competition in this case of figure… “ I don't dare judge agreements that I don't know. They were probably surprised by his decision to start running again » comments modestly Paolo Ciabatti.
The fact remains that we are there and Jorge Lorenzo will be at the Catalan Grand Prix if the latter takes place. In this case, what can we expect from him, with a Yamaha that he will have to rediscover? “ It will be interesting to see it, but getting back on a bike and picking up the mechanisms that are in competition could be complicated. However, competitors will arrive at this race without having competed in many Grands Prix. So it could be a little simpler. »
It will be recalled that Jorge Lorenzo was hired by Yamaha to help develop the M1 for the benefit of its official riders. Maverick Vinales, Valentino Rossi et fabio quartararo. And not to compete with them…
