Several injuries and bad luck have blighted the start of Jorge Lorenzo’s Repsol Honda Team career but an almost fully fit five-time World Champion now has a home favourite quickly appearing over the horizon: the Gran Premio Red Bull de España.
More specifically, the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto - a track Lorenzo has experienced great success at in the past. 10 podium finishes, five of those being wins including three in the premier class, in addition to seven pole positions means it’s a huge weekend for ‘The Spartan’, who has been focused on this race since the start of the season.
“I have been focusing on this race since the start of the season,” admits Lorenzo, who also has Turn 13 named after him at the Andalusian layout. “With limited testing, we knew the opening rounds would be rough,” continues the number 99.
“Jerez is one of my favourite circuits. The surface normally has a lot of grip and this suits my style very well unlike a couple of tracks we have already visited. I am sure we can achieve a good result with the Repsol Honda Team after learning a lot in the opening rounds.”
His maiden Ducati podium came at Jerez in 2017 and if it wasn’t for a huge crash involving himself, then teammate Andrea Dovizioso and Dani Pedrosa, another one could have been forthcoming in 2018. Before last season’s Spanish GP mishap, Lorenzo had claimed a top three in Jerez in seven of the last eight seasons, missing out with a fourth place in 2014, with his last non-score in southern Spain coming in 2009.
So, is it the perfect setting for one of the sport’s greats to assert himself on the RC213V? It’s certainly up there. Let’s see if we can see Lorenzo fighting up there at the front this weekend as MotoGP™ kick start their 2019 European tour.