Lorenzo ‘more mature, but not immune to making mistakes’

Jorge Lorenzo will get a second chance to undertake a MotoGP race next weekend in Montmeló, after missing out on the 2008 Sunday proceedings due to a practice session crash. The Spaniard is in high spirits ahead of his home race, but is still wary of necessary improvements in order to continue his title challenge.

The Fiat Yamaha rider has placed on the podium at all but one race so far this year, and has the added motivation of making amends for a fall at his last home round at Jerez. Since that incident, Lorenzo has kept up his points tally with victory and a second place from the last pair of races.

“We are more confident in the bike right now, and we have also had some luck,” he said modestly at the official presentation of the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya. “Apart from Jerez, we’ve had no real setback this year.”

With a flatscreen television screen in the background showing his planting of the ‘Lorenzo Land’ flag in the Le Mans gravel, the 22 year-old revealed that psychologically he also feels in better shape than during his rookie year.

“I can say that I am more mature right now, but that’s not to say that I am immune to making mistakes. At Le Mans I assumed the wrong grid spot and could have been disqualified, but I picked up 25 points. At Mugello I could have had zero points after crashing on the sighting lap, but I ended the day with 20.”

The ‘G’ grandstand of the Circuit de Catalunya will be reserved for Lorenzo’s fan club, formed last month ahead of the Jerez race. The rider himself says that he is “proud to finally have a group behind him to show support” at such a special round.