Australia MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo plays down title prospects

Jorge Lorenzo has again played down his 2009 MotoGP title prospects ahead of this weekend’s crucial Australian race at Phillip Island.

The 22-year-old believes all the pressure is on Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi to deliver a seventh premier class crown as the pair head into the final three races split by just 18-points.

Lorenzo, who claimed a fourth win of the season to rekindle his title hopes in Estoril earlier this month, said he expected a Rossi backlash this weekend after the Italian’s dismal Portugal performance left him fourth.

“You can never get carried away because when you’re fighting with Valentino you can’t be any other way.

“You must be focused and I know he will want to take his revenge at the next race. He is not going to sit there with his arms folded and take this. But I still don’t have anything to lose.

“The pressure is not on me to win the title, it is all on Valentino and I’m not the favourite. I can take some risks because I have no choice but I have to still ride with my head.

“Even if I win all the remaining three races and Valentino finishes behind me, then he is still the world champion, “said Lorenzo.