Jorge Lorenzo is aiming for MotoGP world title number two in 2011.

Reigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo steps up to the grid to challenge for a second title this weekend when the 2011 series commences in Qatar.

The 2010 season saw Lorenzo firmly cement his place as one of the Grand Prix elite. The 23-year-old Mallorcan stormed through the 18 round season to take an impressive nine race wins and a premier class record breaking 383 point tally on his way to title victory.

The Yamaha Factory rider has started every MotoGP race in his premiership career at Qatar from the front row, taking a pole position in his 2008 MotoGP debut and has always finished on the podium, although a race win has so far eluded him.

“The new season is here and I’m very proud to be able to start it with the number one,” Lorenzo said. “Our bike has been better and better from the first test but there is still room for improvement.

“Winning the world championship last year was a great achievement but everybody starts the same this weekend with no points and the competition is very tough. I have been training very hard over the winter to be ready and I am excited to start.”

Teammate Ben Spies, the Texan factory newcomer, is no stranger to Yamaha having taken the Yamaha Factory Superbike to victory in the 2009 World Superbike Championship.

He went on to impress in his debut season in MotoGP in 2010 on the Tech3 Yamaha M1, securing sixth in the championship standings as the highest placed non-factory rider, scoring two podiums and a dazzling pole position start for his home race at Indianapolis in the process.

Spies too is confident for the year ahead after a positive pre-season.

“It feels really good to be here as part of the Factory Team, we worked really hard last year to get here,” the 25-year-old said. “I’ve got a great crew around me, I’ve worked with most of them before in different teams so it’s almost like a reunion!

“Everything has gone really smoothly in the tests, I have to say I’m more of a racer than a tester so I’m pretty impatient now to get to it and see what we can do.”