Yamaha wall will help Jorge Lorenzo in 2009

The dividing wall that will continue to split Yamaha’s factory MotoGP garage in 2009 will be beneficial to Jorge Lorenzo, according to his team boss Daniele Romagnoli.

Lorenzo was unhappy that Fiat Yamaha team-mate and reigning MotoGP world champion had successfully persuaded Yamaha to retain the wall, which was first used in 2008 when the pair raced on different tyre brands.

Even though the introduction of the single tyre rule will now see both Rossi and Spaniard Lorenzo race on Bridgestone rubber in 2009, the wall will stay. 

But while Lorenzo might not be too keen on the idea, his team manager Romagnoli believes the wall will help Lorenzo focus his attention more on his job than worrying about the fortunes of Italian Ross.

Romagnoli told MCN: “Jorge doesn’t like so much that the wall will stay. But I have tried to explain to him that the wall is something we need. It is something that can help him because it saves him from concentrating too much on Valentino. He can focus on himself.

“The wall will help him because he has his own team working just for him. So everybody surrounding him is working just for him and 100 per cent for him. When two riders are on the same team, every rider watches the other side.

“This happens for sure. After a race too the other side might be the winner and you might be tenth. Then you don’t have to see the celebrations.”

Lorenzo was the revelation of the 2008 series, winning the Rookie of the Year title with a series of scintillating performances that included three successive pole positions in his first three races.

He also won in only his third attempt in Estoril but his season was also memorable for a series of massive crashes that left him spending large chunks of the season recuperating and less than 100 per cent fit.

Lorenzo will be back on track with the rest of the MotoGP field in Sepang on February 5.

Do you think the Yamaha wall staying will help or hinder Lorenzo? Post a comment below.