Ducati Throwing Everything it Has Behind Lorenzo

Commenting on Lorenzo’s performance in Ducati thus far, analyst Michele Pirro affirms the team is fully behind the newly-blooded Spaniard.

Already showing signs of improvement under the crimson banner, Jorge Lorenzo is doing all he can to make sure that his 2017 start on a new bike is the best that he can be. Yet the effort isn’t a solo attempt. Lorenzo’s got a whole team behind him, and more specifically Michele Pirro – Ducati’s analyst who’s made it his sole goal to get Lorenzo more comfortable on the Italian machine.

Lorenzo had significant issues at his debut test in Sepang, but all issues seemed to have been cleared so far with the Spaniard managing to finish only four tenths of a second behind Maverick Vinales  – the test session’s fastest rider.

“Jorge has been riding the Yamaha, which is quite a different bike, for many years. However, he was on top level again during the last day at Sepang.

He has covered just 100 laps on the Ducati, while he had already done thousands on the Yamaha.

Anyway, I’m sure Lorenzo will fight for the win in Qatar at the first round of the season.” – Michele Pirro

A new machine isn’t all Lorenzo’s getting from his changeover to Ducati, he finally gets to put that toxic relationship between himself and Valentino Rossi behind him. After multiple incidents that culminated in Rossi accusing Marquez of being Lorenzo’s bodyguard, the Yamaha teammate’s relationship was broken beyond repair.

A fresh partnership with Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati will revitalize the Spaniard for 2017, per Pirro:

“Last year with Yamaha was not easy for him because of the events at the end of 2015 season and the deep influence of a figure like Valentino.

Jorge suffered from that. At Ducati he will find a much more family atmosphere where everyone will help him to win the world championship.

Here, the whole team works and gives everything to give him the best bike possible, and then we just want him to open the throttle.” – Michele Pirro

On the final day of testing in Sepang, Jorge Lorenzo clocked a time of 1.59.767, with his new teammate up ahead on a 1.59.553. Testing continues on February 15th down under at the Phillip Island circuit.