Experience vital for Jorge Lorenzo

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo believes his growing experience and maturity are proving critical in his bid to wrestle the title away from Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi in 2010.

The Spaniard heads to this weekend’s Italian MotoGP at the challenging Mugello circuit brimming with confidence having won the Jerez and Le Mans clashes recently.

The 23-year-old sits nine-points clear of Rossi after three races and he believes experience has been a key factor in his early season assault.

Lorenzo produced a stunning fightback to win his home race in Jerez for the first time in early May and then handed out a comprehensive beating to Rossi in Le Mans.

And the double world 250GP champion said: “The future looks good but I have to be quiet and not think too much that I am a very fast or very special rider.

“I have to have humility and keep working. To beat the legend (Rossi) you have to be very fast, very clever and very constant.”

But he said his Le Mans race had proven that he was benefiting from experience. “If this race happened to me three or four years ago then maybe I make a crazy thing, so this is one of the things I’ve changed recently. I waited 12 laps, normally I wait three corners,“ said Lorenzo.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s much-anticipated Mugello encounter, Lorenzo added: “Last year Mugello was one of my best races! I crashed in the warm-up lap, but otherwise it was almost perfect and I was so happy to get on the podium. The sessions and the race were amazing because the weather kept changing.

“For me, Mugello is the best circuit in the world, joint with Phillip Island. It’s a classic circuit with many ups and downs and an incredible atmosphere.

“I have had a great start to the season and once again our aim will be to be strong from the first day and get on the podium.”