Interview
MotoGP
Lorenzo: Switching from 250cc easier than Ducati move
Jorge Lorenzo says the switch from 250cc to MotoGP machinery was easier than his move across from Yamaha to Ducati at the start of last season.
Jamie Klein Oriol Puigdemont
Published: Oct 17, 2018, 1:02 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Three-time premier class champion Lorenzo was lured away at great expense from Yamaha to join Ducati in 2017, but the partnership fell apart earlier this year after a season-and-a-half of inconsistent results.
Lorenzo went on to win three races after the decision was made by Ducati to ditch him, and he has since penned a deal to join Honda in 2019 alongside Marc Marquez.
Read Also:
Reflecting on his Ducati tenure in an exclusive Motorsport.com interview, Lorenzo reiterated just how tough it was to adapt to the Demosedici after nine years at Yamaha, claiming that stepping up from the 250cc class to MotoGP in 2008 was an easier transition.
“I always get there,” said Lorenzo. “I have the talent to be fast on a bike and especially because, let’s say, I am a sponge. I work a lot and if things don’t work, I work twice as hard.
“With the Yamaha I barely touched the rear brake, and I released the front brake a lot sooner to increase my speed in the corners.
“With the Ducati it’s completely the opposite: you gain your time at the braking points, blocking the rear wheel at the last moment and going in crossed, taking benefit from the acceleration on exit.
“For me it was like changing categories. I would say that stepping from the 250cc Aprilia to the Yamaha MotoGP was less dramatic than my arrival to Ducati.
“The Aprilia is less nervous than the Ducati, which was perfect for my style. The Ducati bike was the opposite to me and that is why I was in shock the first time I tried it.
Jorge Lorenzo, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
“But I insist, I always get there. I lived that in 125cc, then in 250cc and also in MotoGP. The problem is that some people thought I was going to be champion with Ducati in my first year.
“Furthermore, I had Marquez in front, who had raced with Honda for five years at that time.”
While Lorenzo admitted he “underestimated” what it would take to be competitive on the Ducati, he underlined that the Italian marque’s one and only MotoGP title – delivered by Casey Stoner in 2007 – came in unusual circumstances.
“I thought I was going to be faster from the beginning and it wasn’t like that,” Lorenzo said.
“But it is also true that Ducati has only won a single title in all its history and it was in a particular year: they had Bridgestone tyres and 30 horsepower more than the others.
“Stoner is a top rider, and after 2007 he kept winning races but it wasn’t the same.”
2007 MotoGP champion Casey Stoner celebrates
Photo by: Ducati Corse
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Rea: I could've done better than Crutchlow in MotoGP
Next article Lorenzo still in doubt to race in Japan
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Jorge Lorenzo
Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez less explosive now, but smarter than ever
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez less explosive now, but smarter than ever
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo's partnership cools down after early enthusiasm
MotoGP
MotoGP
Brazil GP
Maverick Vinales and Jorge Lorenzo's partnership cools down after early enthusiasm
How Jorge Lorenzo is pushing Maverick Vinales beyond his limits in MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing launch
How Jorge Lorenzo is pushing Maverick Vinales beyond his limits in MotoGP
More from
Ducati Team
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
Jorge Lorenzo describes Marc Marquez as “the Ayrton Senna of motorcycling”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
Jorge Lorenzo describes Marc Marquez as “the Ayrton Senna of motorcycling”
Latest news
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 3 h
Retaining Liam Lawson isn't enough – Red Bull must stop treating him like a failure
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
6 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe