No After Effects for Lorenzo as Yamaha Talk Tough
Added on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo pleased with progress after hand surgery
Jorge Lorenzo is suffering no ill-effects from his recent hand surgery as he and the Yamaha team prepare to fight for the points in Shanghai this weekend.
The Spaniard went into surgery just 24 hours after winning his first MotoGP race in Estoril to cure a case of carpel tunnel syndrome - a common problem for motorcycle riders and is feeling no adverse affects following the three-week break.
“Each day I am feeling better after my operation; I feel great and I think the recovery is going very well, without problems,” said Lorenzo. “I am going to China in perfect shape.
“The victory in Portugal was like a big present that I had never expected, but in a way it wasn’t a perfect victory because I couldn’t enjoy it so much!
“The pain in my arms changed the celebration but I believe the most important thing is to make sure I am fit for the future.
Lorenzo has been somewhat quiet given the tough-talking that is coming from the Yamaha camp, adding: “I am calm because I am realizing a dream and for me the target for the season has already been reached. Now we must continue to work like this and I have to concentrate on the next race.
“I have had mixed fortunes in China - I had many problems in 2006 and I couldn’t finish but last year I won and it made the championship easier because it took me to 95 points after only four races.
“Shanghai is a modern track with a long straight, fast corners and big braking areas. It is the second circuit where I’ve never ridden in MotoGP so I don’t know what my performance will be like here but I was very comfortable at this track in 250cc, so I hope it will be the same on May 4th.”
Valentino Rossi on the other hand, claims that he is ready to fight for the points in China this weekend as he looks to end a seven-race win-less streak.
“We’re not in such a bad place in the championship and there is a very long way to go, but our rivals are very strong so we can’t afford to make mistakes and we need to try to take as many points as possible from now on.
“Last year in China we weren’t quite able to win but this year our bike is working very well and, together with our tyre package, I think we should be fighting for the victory.
“The race in 2007 was very exciting I think, a long battle with Stoner; this year I hope for a similar battle with my rivals but with a different outcome!”
Team boss Davide Brivio is equally positive, claiming:
“Normally in China we have always been competitive but last year we couldn’t win, we finished second.
“This year we’ll try again but the competition will be much stronger because it is not only Stoner who is capable of fighting for victory, there are other competitive riders too.
“We were very pleased with the results in Jerez and Estoril because we knew they were tracks that weren’t the most favourable for us so it was a case of going there to defend. Now we hope that China is the first of the tracks where we can go and attack.”
