“It looks like there are no negatives,” says Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) of the new aero fairing sported by the ‘Spartan’ on Saturday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix České republiky, after having taken it to fourth on the grid. “We’ll have to test it again in the test but it looks like, for the moment, it’s slightly better in some areas so we’ll probably keep it for the race.”
That race is one Lorenzo has won twice before, and he’ll be aiming high again in 2018 from his second row start. After coming so close to pole after the first run there are some negatives to the day, but overall he feels ready to race and is satisfied with the turnaround after a more difficult day on Friday.
“If qualifying was just seven minutes or one tyre, I’d probably have pole position because my first lap was really good,” says the number 99. “Unfortunately, they all improved so much with the second tyre and I almost didn’t improve. I didn’t make a very good lap time second time out and probably I missed putting on the hard front tyre that for these conditions could have been better for straight braking. Anyway, it’s a big improvement from yesterday. We can be satisfied with the speed we gained in just one day and even though fourth position isn’t fantastic, it isn’t so bad. We are first on the second row. We have a good position for tomorrow. And we managed the working of the old tyres well for the race, so we’re ready.”
One key could be the start – something Lorenzo is known for, and has shown is one of his biggest fortes – but the Spaniard knows the Champion-packed front row are no slouches either.
“From the second row it’s not impossible to overtake some positions but they’re going to try to start well. So, the start will be important but the most important thing will be the management of the rear tyre because it drops so much after a few laps. And the choice of the tyre – because we still have two options to choose. And the riding. You must save tyre and energy for the race because it will be hot. It could rain, also, so we have to take into account this possibility.”
Rain was a good omen for Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) last year and Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) in 2016, but Lorenzo was the man on top before them. Can he repeat his 2015 success? Find out from 14:00 (GMT +2).