No pressure on Lorenzo in 2009
Added on Friday, November 14th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Lorenzo focused on personal goals.
Jorge Lorenzo believes that he will be riding pressure-free in next season’s MotoGP championship, with only personal improvement the goal for the young Spaniard.
Lorenzo wowed the crowds in the early part of his debut season, with three podiums from the first three races, including a win at Estoril, before injury, stemming from a spectacular high-side in China, and tyre problems led to a series of disappointing results.
However, the 22-year-old managed to retain his composure on the final race of the season in Valencia to claim the Rookie of the Year award.
High expectations have been placed on Lorenzo’s shoulders for 2009 when, following the move to a single tyre rule, he’ll be racing with the same specification bike as teammate and world champion Valentino Rossi, but the youngster insists that there is no pressure to perform as he heads into the new season.
“There have been no objectives set out, and nobody is demanding that we win the title,” he told the official MotoGP website.
“I think that if I can improve my results then it will be an extraordinary season.”
The Spaniard also admitted there is still work to do on the new Yamaha, having tested it for just one day following the end of the season at Valencia.
“I have only had the chance to try the new bike for a day, with the intention of adjusting to the new regulations,” he added.
“The bike isn’t working perfectly, so in Jerez we will be working above all with the chassis, now that we won’t have the engine until Sepang.”
