Lorenzo: Austria my most convincing weekend yet for Ducati

Lorenzo made the most of his second front row start of the season, taking the lead into the third corner and proceeding to lead for the next 10 laps, which is more than he has done previously. 

The Spaniard's pace eventually started to drop off, and he was powerless to stop teammate Andrea Dovizioso and the Honda duo of Marc Marquez and Dani Pedrosa from coming through.

Lorenzo made it across the line in fourth and six seconds down on race winner Dovizioso, his smallest deficit to the win so far this season, and reckons the pace he showed, as well as the feeling he had on his GP17, was as good as it has ever been. 

“It's not the best result because Jerez I finished third, but in Jerez I finished 14 seconds [from Pedrosa], in Barcelona I finished nine to Dovi but this time just six seconds was the difference,” he said.

“Also, I was leading more laps than ever, 10 laps, again I was on the first row [of the grid].

“For the performance it's the best weekend. The best feeling, the best performance. We must be satisfied, but not happy because obviously I want more and my team wants more from me.

“But we are making huge steps and I hope also to make the last one I need in the Misano test [on Tuesday].”

Fuel consumption, tyre wear stymie podium charge

Lorenzo was denied the opportunity to fight for the podium after hitting issues with fuel consumption.

The Spaniard was forced to turn down his engine from the third lap, which robbed him of speed. To add to his woes, he began to lose grip on the right shoulder of his soft rear tyre towards mid-distance.

“So today has been two problems, we were very close with the fuel so, from lap three I needed to put the lowest power [engine map], and my bike was slower than normal,” he explained.

“I lose so much in the straight compared to the three guys [in front].

“Then from lap 12, 15 I start losing a lot of traction on the right side and I needed to slow down.

“You never know if we make the perfect decision on the tyre on the rear, because on the right side I lose so much traction.

“Every lap I do on the bike, I get more experience, more knowledge, sooner or later we will make it happen.”

Additional reporting by Oriol Puigdemont