Initially, Valentino Rossi launched the idea as a huge joke, as it was formulated in a Valencia Grand Prix stunned by Jorge Lorenzo's announcement of his retirement. It was about getting him back from Yamaha to make him a test rider. The sequel will have shown that the Doctor had in fact had a premonition. Better still, few now doubt that the Majorcan was planning to withdraw from his Honda contract. Within the tuning fork brand, we ignore this suspicion, only rejoicing at having recovered its champion, for a position left vacant for too long...
Having a quality test driver is a thorny subject among Yamaha . The firm has always relied on its Japanese personnel, both technically and on the track, to develop the M1. It was only very recently that it decided to open a European branch. With Jonas Folger as a pilot. But the contribution was tiny, as the tests were rare.
But this time, it would be serious. Already, Galbraith, former mechanic at Red, is on the move. Afterwards, Johann zarco was asked, but he declined. Then came a Jorge Lorenzo hurt and bruised, in every sense of the word, by his year spent fighting against the Honda.
Por Fuera won three MotoGP titles with the M1. He knows it perfectly, and is even said to be an accomplice with it due to a driving style that is perfectly in line with the qualities of the machine. Time and will, like the ever-living sacred fire, did the rest, and here is the prodigal son back home... The Yamaha team director rejoices: “ Since Jorge returned to Yamaha, I have noticed that he has changed a lot as a person. I am confident that he will bring all the experience he has gained at Honda and Ducati over the years by showing us the strengths of the other bikes ", said Meregalli which adds on the reunion with Valentino Rossi. " I think the respect between Lorenzo and Vale has always been very high, despite the rivalry between teammates, which pushed them to give their all. »
But the return of Jorge Lorenzo would also be essential for the Iwata brand which would have finally found the missing link in its system: “ I think Yamaha's problem was not having a test rider of the caliber of Lorenzo, who is a very fast rider. In the past, riders might have hoped to follow instructions and thereby figure out certain things, whereas Lorenzo has a knack for taking the bike and pushing it to the limit, riding it naturally. I remember the Sepang test, I went to see him at the track and at the end of the test he told me he had found things on the bike. »
We will recall that Jorge Lorenzo is expected as a wildcard in Catalonia on the Yamaha. A meeting all the more hoped for as it would possibly be the first Grand Prix of the season. Provided that the coronavirus loosens its grip... We would then be the 7 June.
