"The Honda is a difficult bike but Lorenzo will be here soon", warns Marquez !
The first offseason tests in Valencia (Spain) – led by Viñales on the Yamaha – mark the discovery of a new bike for several riders, including Jorge Lorenzo who finished 12th, 0.827 sec off the benchmark on the world champion Honda. MotoGP…
It’s an understatement to say that Jorge Lorenzo’s first laps on the factory RC213V were followed closely during, exactly two years after performing the same exercise on the Ducati in the wake of his final victory over the Yamaha. at the 2016 Valencia GP !
- Valencia Tests Day 1 : Viñales, Marquez and Rossi in the lead
- Valencia Tests Day 2 : Viñales confirms ahead of Dovizioso and Marquez
The Mallorcan – who will therefore have driven three different motorcycles in four seasons! – was ostensibly observed by his rivals, curious to measure how quickly he would get used to his new mount. Will he be immediately competitive, to the point of competing with his new box neighbor Marc Marquez? Or will it take time, as was the case with the Desmosedici ?
First elements of answers after two days of tests and 76 completed laps: the n ° 99 did not immediately find its marks on the official Honda, as revealed by its 18th time on the first day, then its 12th place on the second day 0.827 sec from the leader.
From there to drawing hasty conclusions, there is only one step … that MNC will not take! On the one hand, because the weather conditions of this test were not conducive to achieving good lap times due to the rain which spoiled the first day, then much of the morning of the second day while waiting for the asphalt. dry night showers.
For Rossi, Lorenzo is "not yet very comfortable on the Honda"
A cold track, even fresh in places: we have known better to discover a motorcycle, especially when its V4 engine spits in the 270 hp! Lorenzo is also still recovering from the various injuries he contracted during his falls in San Marino (Italy), then in Aragon (Spain), especially on the wrist..
"I was able to ride behind Jorge: he was not going very fast, finally we could see that he was not yet very comfortable on the bike", notes his former teammate Valentino Rossi, before he too s ‘ask about his real state of form: "you have to see what pain he still experiences on the wrist", said the Italian to our Spanish Motoclismo colleagues.
His new box neighbor, Marc Marquez (3rd of these tests at 0.154 sec from Viñales), delivers a significantly more optimistic analysis and reminds us that the RCV is not an obvious motorcycle. An observation shared by all Honda riders, in particular Cal Crutchlow and the "young retiree" Dani Pedrosa, or Franco Morbidelli, very happy to be on a Yamaha now. !
"It was good, because he has already been able to test the new bike", gently thinks? – the reigning MotoGP world champion. "I think that it will be done gradually: the Honda is a difficult motorcycle to take in hand, but it will be there very soon!", Promises the n ° 93 … who must nevertheless hope that his teammate will need time before to challenge him victory !
It should be remembered that Jorge Lorenzo is still contractually bound to Ducati until the end of December 2018, which explains why he rides on a black Honda and with equipment virgin from all sponsors. The Mallorcan is also banned from talking about his new motorcycle before this deadline.
The n ° 99 will take over the handlebars of its RC213V during the next official tests in Jerez (Spain) on November 27 and 29, since Ducati has also authorized him to take part with his new employer. Sporty attitude on the part of the Reds, who were not legally bound to release him before the end of his contract.
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