Jorge Lorenzo has renewed optimism that he will be able to challenge Marc Marquez as the pair both contend for a third MotoGP world crown next year. In 2014, Lorenzo finished outside the World Championship top two for the first time since his first MotoGP campaign in 2008.
Italian Grand Prix. Getty
Having struggled with a new tyre early in the year, the Mallorcan would suffer a number of issues throughout the campaign. In Malaysia, he admitted that his fitness could have been better. With all of this in mind, the title winner of 2010 and 2012 knows what he has to do.
“I am now at about 70 percent of my effort for training,” he explained during a dinner with his Fan Club on the outskirts of Barcelona last Saturday evening. “From January we’ll be back to maximum power to be better at the beginning of the season. I am looking forward to first relaxing and then to training very hard.
“When you are already a World Champion in MotoGP, you want to repeat it. Second place is good, third place is good, but obviously we are here to try and win. We know it is not going to be easy because Marquez and Honda together are very strong; they are a very strong couple. But I think if we put in all of our efforts – if the Yamaha is good and so am I, from both a physical and mental side – I think I can fight.”
Last weekend, the Spaniard was delighted to spend time with his Fan Club.
“2009 was the first time and now, after this difficult season, to be surrounded by so many people from around the world for our sixth Fan Club dinner – 40 people from Italy, obviously lots from Spain, but also from Japan, from Poland, Germany and England – is wonderful and we’re having fun,” Lorenzo commented.
Four of the last five MotoGP world crowns have gone the way of either Lorenzo or Marquez, with the only exception being Casey Stoner’s title win in 2011.