Lorenzo: “I just didn’t feel safe or comfortable in the rain”

Saturday proved to be an exceedingly difficult day in Assen for Jorge Lorenzo who crashed and then qualified down in 11th.

"The gravel was very close to the track and when I arrived to it I had a very high speed and I rolled through the gravel a lot"

Free Practice 3 saw Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) have a fast fall at Turn 7, the Mallorcan sliding off his bike but tumbling heavily through the gravel. Clearly shaken, he was slow to get to his feet but suffered no serious injuries. It upset his rhythm but Lorenzo was able to head back out for the final minutes of the session. Free Practice 4 offered the grid a brief chance to test their wet weather settings, which would be crucial when Q2 began soon after.

Unfortunately Lorenzo was unable to get comfortable during the 15-minute shootout and managed a best time of 1’47.897, some 2.651s off Andrea Dovizioso’s (Ducati Team) pole lap, and only good enough  for 11th. He made no excuses and laid the blame firmly at his own feet. This is not the first time Lorenzo has had issues in Assen when the track was between wet and dry, the 2014 race saw him end down in 13th in similar conditions. Due to his penalty, Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) will start last and as such Lorenzo will be promoted to tenth on the grid. Tenth is Lorenzo’s worst Qualifying result since the 2013 Dutch GP when he broke his collarbone and was forced to miss Qualifying.

Jorge Lorenzo, Movistar Yamaha MotoGP, Motul TT Assen

Jorge Lorenzo: “It was a heavy crash even though it was a small crash, losing the front, but the corner was fast. The gravel was very close to the track and when I arrived to it I had a very high speed and I rolled through the gravel a lot. A lot of rocks hit me in the neck, on my back and my hip, so I damaged my skin and superficially have a lot of pain, but luckily not in my bones, they are OK so I can race without any problem. I don’t think it had an effect on qualifying, I just didn’t feel safe or comfortable in the rain on wet tyres. I tried my best but I was slow.”