British MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo thrilled with early pace

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he will be able to mount a strong challenge for his third victory of the 2010 MotoGP campaign at Silverstone this weekend.

The Spaniard made the perfect start to the first British MotoGP clash to be staged at the Northamptonshire track since 1986 when he topped the timesheets in first practice.

Fighting a lone battle for the depleted Fiat Yamaha squad with Valentino Rossi recovering from the broken leg he suffered in Mugello, the 23-year-old set a best time of 2.05.991 to deny Casey Stoner top spot by 0.142s. 

Giving his first impressions of the fast and flowing Silverstone track, the double world 250GP champion said: “It is a beautiful track. It was very difficult in the first few laps because it was a long time since we arrived in a new track. I think it was in Misano in 2007 and that was quite easy to learn.  

“But this is a difficult track, very long and hard to understand and to find the braking points and the lines. I felt so strange at the beginning but by the end I was quite fast.

“We’ve worked really hard and I’ve ridden a lot of laps in order to begin to understand every corner and every straight. Unfortunately it was cold today and the asphalt was cold too, which meant that without any reference points in the beginning it was quite difficult, but hopefully tomorrow and Sunday will be better.

“But the first section to the chicane are very funny corners. You must be very smooth and I think also you can slide a lot in some parts of the track and I really like to ride on it.”

One issue for Lorenzo was the bumps, with the Silverstone surface given a lukewarm reception by the majority of the premier class field.

He added: “There are a lot of bumps and some parts of the corners are so bumpy. But the bike on the bumps is working well. Maybe the only problem we have is in some acceleration but the bike is in good shape.”

Lorenzo again faced yet more questions about his thoughts on the absence of Italian icon Rossi and how it impacts on his quest for a first MotoGP world title.

Lorenzo, who leads compatriot Dani Pedrosa by 25-points going into Sunday’s 20-lap encounter, added: “In Mugello I just wanted to finish the race. I had this feeling more than other races because I knew that if I finished second I would have a 25-point lead but if I crashed I could have been second or third in the championship.

“My main objective in Mugello was to finish because the situation changed a lot. I’m concentrated on enjoying the riding now and trying to improve. My goal has always been to be world champion.

“I’m not in any rush to get it and I still don’t have a rush. It is true that Valentino was clearly the favourite and without him I’m the second favourite after Stoner because he’s been a world champion.”

Rossi will miss at least five races after he broke his right leg in a practice high-side for his home race in Mugello earlier this month.