Lorenzo targets top three despite injury worries
Added on Monday, July 13th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo targets top three despite injury worries
Jorge Lorenzo has warned that he will be far from 100% fit this weekend as he looks to turn the pressure on Valentino Rossi at Sachsenring this weekend.
The Spaniard was in obvious discomfort following the US Grand Prix a week ago after damaging his shoulder crashing out in qualifying for last round in California, with post-race tests confirming a dislocated collar bone.
Experts suggested that, whilst Lorenzo would not miss any race time because of the injury, the 22-year-old would be around six weeks away from regaining full fitness, putting a severe dent in his championship prospects.
But whilst Lorenzo conceded that the injury would pose a problem, he is still confident of a podium finish this weekend in Germany.
“Following my injuries in Laguna Seca, I am feeling a lot better after a week of rest but I won’t be at 100 per cent this weekend,” Lorenzo warned.
“I have some pain in my foot when walking and also in my shoulder joint, so the first thing I will do when I get to Sachsenring is go to the Clinica Mobile.
“My aim as ever this weekend is to be on the podium and to try to get as many points as possible compared to the rivals that are in front of me,” he said.
Lorenzo’s team manager Daniele Romagnoli is also confident that his rider can still take home plenty of points despite his injuries, having performed admirably against Rossi at Laguna Seca.
“We’re happy to report that Jorge’s condition is a lot better after a week of rest,” Romagnoli said. “He won’t be in perfect condition but he will be a lot stronger and therefore able to push harder on the bike this weekend than he could in Laguna.
“In America Jorge showed once again that he has a great determination to achieve his potential whatever condition he is in and so we hope that in Germany we can be in good shape once again, be at the front and fight for the podium. We need to try to recover some points as we look to the summer break.”
