MotoGP, Jorge Lorenzo-Valentino Rossi: Petronas can dream

A flashback between Jorge Lorenzo and Yamaha. Petronas dreams big: an exceptional line-up with Valentino Rossi.

In the MotoGP paddock of Sepang Jorge Lorenzo ready to welcome Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales returning from Jakarta. He will also be there on the day of the presentation of the MotoGP 2020 team. It could not be otherwise, albeit without taking anything away from the two official bishops. In his first day of testing he made over 40 laps turning a second slower than the best time of the day, but it doesn’t matter. The sensations on the M1 were ideal, enough to think of returning soon as a wild card in the race. Perhaps a prelude to returning to the race in 2021, leaving the Yamaha fans to dream. Together with the Doctor, he would form a tandem of 14 world titles together, Petronas is already ready to welcome the great and unrepeatable opportunity. But these are scenarios that will only emerge in the coming months.

LORENZO PROJECTED TO 2021

In anticipation, Jorge Lorenzo began his work as a tester alongside Silvano Galbusera, former chief technician of Valentino Rossi, ready to fill any data gaps in his three years of absence. Every detail is studied in detail, such as the day of his debut in M1. On social media, he attracted attention by overshadowing the presentation of his former Honda team. The news of his return to MotoGP could not go unnoticed even in the enemy home. “It’s interesting – commented Marc Marquez – see him again after working for Honda. I think it will be very fast with Yamaha. With Honda it was hard. If it is fast with Yamaha, it means that the M1 is easier to drive“.

The first good news is that the back did not give any problems, an obvious symptom that the M1 does not require physicality like the RC213V. But he didn’t want to force his hand by limiting himself to 44 laps. “I’m satisfied. The team is perfect and the bike is still very competitive. I am convinced that with everyone’s help we can improve it further“. The real strength remains the chassis, the weak point is the engine. On this second aspect it will be impossible to make changes before the freezing of the four cylinder in Qatar. But Yamaha has laid the foundations for a thriving future in MotoGP. And the greatest contribution of Jorge Lorenzo will be seen only on the 2021 prototype. Maybe it will be the bike tailored for the return to the track.