MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo isn’t ruling out a huge victory at this Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix despite struggling with an underpowered YZR-M1 so far in 2011.
Factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo raced to a superb second place finish behind Aussie Casey Stoner at Qatar earlier this month, frustrated as the Honda consistently proved faster in a straight line.
However with Jerez being one of the tightest circuits on the calendar and Lorenzo’s favourite, he’s looking for his second win in succession at the venue on Sunday.
“I am ready to come back to Jerez. We started the championship so well in Qatar and I believe it is a great moment to ride for my people and my Fan Club here in Spain,” the Spanish local commented.
“Last year the situation was quite similar and perhaps I got the best victory of my career, closing a big gap in the last few laps. We can’t make predictions for Sunday, but my crew and I will work as much as possible to be in front.
“Jerez is a special place for me, maybe the best track in the world. When I was only 15, the day right after my birthday, I raced for the first time in front of 100,000 people here.”
The Mallorcan’s relationship with the Andalucian track in Jerez is a special one, providing him with race wins in both 2006 and 2007 on his way to two successive 250cc GP titles.
His last visit in 2010 was no less spectacular, having caught and dispatched then teammate Valentino Rossi after a less than perfect start, Lorenzo closed a 1.5 second gap to Dani Pedrosa in the last five laps to take the race lead and victory from the last corner.