Paris: Jorge Lorenzo concedes he could have ‘thrown in the towel’ after a frustrating two-year spell at Ducati, but the three-time MotoGP champion feels rejuvenated and once again ready to challenge the supremacy of title-holder Marc Marquez – his new Honda stablemate.
Marquez has taken the sport by storm since his 2013 debut in the top category, winning the championship in five of the past six seasons, with fellow Spaniard Lorenzo standing between him and perfection having captured the 2015 title.
Yet injury clouds hover over both ahead of this weekend’s season-opener in Qatar. Marquez has rated his fitness at ‘almost 100 per cent’ following a gruelling rehabilitation from December shoulder surgery, while Lorenzo missed the first pre-season test at Sepang after fracturing his wrist in a dirt bike crash.
After a fruitless 2017 campaign, Lorenzo rebounded with three wins a year ago — in Italy, Catalonia and Austria — before injury wrecked the latter part of his season.
He finished a career-worst ninth after missing four races having hurt his wrist following a nasty crash ahead of October’s Thailand Grand Prix.
“Last year, honestly, was tough and I went through a period of emotional instability. I could have thrown in the towel, but that’s not who I am,” Lorenzo said. “Signing with Honda has been a massive injection of motivation. I’m convinced that, through my mentality, ambition and sacrifice, I can be very competitive. Fighting with Marc is a challenge for any rider and, at this point in my career, it’s a great boost.”
“So far, I’m the only rider who has managed to win a title against Marc. Nothing is impossible and with effort, I want to prove it again,” he added.
AFP