Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo ready for tough battle

Jorge Lorenzo believes he could face another epic clash with Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in tomorrow’s Czech Republic MotoGP race.

Lorenzo preserved his 100 per cent front row qualifying record in 2009 today when he claimed second on the grid for the 22-lap race.

The Spaniard failed to capitalise on Valentino Rossi’s late crash though as he again struggled to make a big impact on Bridgestone’s soft compound rear tyre.

And like compatriot Dani Pedrosa, who finished third on the grid, he set his best time on a harder race tyre to finish 0.050s adrift of Italian Rossi.

The double world 250GP champion said: “I hope that my pace is enough to go away at the front but it will not be easy with Valentino being fast and he is already motivated and very strong for the race.

“But my pace on race tyres, I think I’ve got the possibility to open a gap. If not it could be a very strong battle again.

“Normally I am fast with the soft tyres and I’ve been like this for my whole life.

“But in the last two races I’ve not felt confident with the soft tyres and I was faster with the hard tyre, which is very strange for me.

“But I must be happy because every race I improve a few tenths and improve the set-up and my style.

“We are really fast and we have a high possibility to finish on the podium and maybe also take the victory as well.”