Mugello MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo chasing famous win

Jorge Lorenzo has admitted he will need to ride at the peak of his form to have any chance of ending Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi’s incredible home record in Mugello.

Lorenzo heads into this weekend’s Italian GP clash holding a slender one-point lead over Rossi and factory Ducati rider Casey Stoner.

The Spaniard, boosted by his beloved Barcelona’s triumph over Manchester United in last night’s Champions League final, has won two out of the last three races to soar to the top of the point’s standings. 

But nobody has been able to defeat Rossi in Mugello since 2001 and Lorenzo told MCN: “For sure I’m more prepared than last year but to beat Valentino in his home is very difficult. He is very fast in Mugello.”

Lorenzo’s brilliant victory in the French GP in Le Mans earlier this month completed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the double world 250 champion.

He had been crestfallen just two weeks earlier when he crashed out of podium contention in his home race in Mugello and he said: “It is an incredible change and amazing how things can change quickly in sport, especially in bike racing. But I have to learn to have always the same mentality, because if you’re very disappointed in a bad result and very high on the good results it is not good. Now we have to keep calm and not get too carried away.”

Lorenzo crashed out of last year’s Italian GP to start a wretched period for the 22-year-old, who then missed the Catalunya clash after a big practice crash.

He added: “The most important thing is that I am confident and feeling fit. Last year was not easy for me; I already had problems with my ankles and then I crashed when trying to pass Andrea Dovizioso. Mugello and Catalunya were horrible for me and finished that period of the season having taken no points. This year, just to take some points at this track and at Catalunya will be an improvement and that’s my aim!”