Lorenzo: “I was almost praying for it to rain!”

A wet weather podium for the ‘Spartan’ after a solid ride in torrential conditions

Jorge Lorenzo’s (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) immediate words in parc ferme praised the “luck” he felt to have ended up on the podium after some riders ahead on track crashed out – but the edge walked by the Mallorcan at the Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix proved to be the right one as he kept it on the road when Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Andrea Iannone (Ducati Team) all pushed too hard. With the track drying towards the end of Moto2™, more rain then came down to create a soaked track for the MotoGP™ grid – so much so that the start was subsequently delayed. Once conditions were good enough to race in, Lorenzo took the lead into Turn 1 before finding a good rhythm behind the front group – and watching as those ahead took a few risks too many.

Jorge Lorenzo (P3): “I stayed on the bike although I didn’t feel very good today – it was worse than the qualifying with more water. I feel lucky because all the crashes were in front of me and that gave me the chance to get on the podium in the rain, but that’s good for confidence. I stayed on the bike!

“I didn’t want a mixed race, so I was almost praying for it to rain – and then maybe it rained too much! I had some moments on the sighting lap and so I told Loris and race direction that we should delay the race, which we did and when the track was safe, we were able to ride quite well.

“Valencia will be an emotional moment because 9 years with one team who gave me so much is emotional. So I’ll train and give my best, and finish in the best way possible.”