Mick Doohan: Jorge Lorenzo will get stronger

Five-times MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan believes Jorge Lorenzo will be a stronger opponent for Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010.

A first corner crash at last weekend’s Australian MotoGP in Phillip Island appears to have dealt a mortal blow to Lorenzo’s hopes of claiming a first premier class crown, the Spaniard now trailing Rossi by 38-points with just two races remaining.

But Aussie legend Doohan, who dominated MotoGP for Repsol Honda between 1994 and 1998, reckons Lorenzo’s challenge will be stronger next season. 

Doohan told MCN: “Jorge is in his second year and last year he was blindingly fast at some places but he made some mistakes. That’s not unusual but he seems to be a bit tamer this year and a bit more consistent too.  

“He’s only going to get stronger, although Jorge is hungry and if anything that could lead to a couple of mistakes from him like we’ve seen.”

Doohan, who was taken over as the dominant force in MotoGP by Italian Rossi, reckons the 30-year-old will clinch a ninth world title at this weekend’s Sepang race.

Doohan added: ”Valentino has got a good lead and he’s an intelligent rider who has won world championships before, so you wouldn’t think he was going to do anything silly. My money is still on Valentino because of his experience.

“He’s been around for so long so he’s got a lot of wins and championships and he knows what he needs to do.”