Lorenzo not expecting to be at 100%

When Jorge Lorenzo arrives at Sachsenring this week for the Alice Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland his first appointment will be with the Clinica Mobile, whose staff helped prepare him for the Laguna Seca race after his qualifying crash - which resulted in a collarbone injury, a micro fracture in his right foot and two bruised ankles.

With the help of Dr Claudio Costa and his team the fearless young Spaniard achieved his fifth consecutive podium result (his seventh of 2009) in California, before flying back to Barcelona for a week of much-needed rest. On his return to Spain Lorenzo visited a private clinic last Wednesday where his injuries were confirmed and he was provided with anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce discomfort and swelling.

A week of physiotherapy and recuperation has followed, before he picks up his title assault again in Germany, with the first of two races in seven days which are certain to be draining experiences for the 22 year-old.

Currently second in the general standings behind team-mate Valentino Rossi - by nine points - as the World Championship reaches its half way stage, Lorenzo previewed the visit to Germany saying, “It is one of the circuits where I’ve never done particularly well, in fact I’ve only had one podium there, in 2006 when I was third in 250cc. Last year it rained a lot and unfortunately I fell on the third lap, so it wasn’t a weekend to remember but I hope this one will be very different.”

“Following my injuries in Laguna Seca, I am feeling a lot better after a week of rest but I won’t be at 100% this weekend,” he continued. “I have some pain in my foot when walking and also in my shoulder joint. My aim as ever this weekend is to be on the podium and to try to get as many points as possible.”

Team manager Daniele Romagnoli added a positive Fiat Yamaha perspective on the situation, saying, “Jorge 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, so we hope that in Germany we can be in good shape once again, be at the front and fight for the podium.”