German MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo aims to build on Mugello success

Jorge Lorenzo is confident he can mount a stronger challenge to Repsol Honda rival Casey Stoner in the coming weeks after his 2011 MotoGP title tilt gained vital momentum in Mugello recently.

Lorenzo goes into this weekend’s Sachsenring race in Germany trailing Aussie Stoner by 19-points after his brilliant victory at Mugello earlier this month.

Having reverted back to a 2010 spec chassis for his Yamaha YZR-M1 machine recently, Lorenzo believes he can now continue to take the fight to Stoner.

The reigning world champion said: “The victory in Mugello has given us more confidence and now we are more focused to try and win races. Before we were playing a little bit just to fight for the podium but now it is a big possibility to fight for the win in the next races. But as always this year it is going to be very tough, especially fighting against the Hondas.”

The Spaniard though admitted it had been hard not to think about the recent Silverstone and Assen races where he lost vital ground in the title hunt.
Lorenzo was fighting for a podium in a rain-lashed British Grand Prix when he crashed out and his victory bid in Assen was ended before he’d even completed a lap after he was caught up in an incident with controversial Honda rider Marco Simoncelli.

Lorenzo recovered to sixth in Holland but he said: “After the race in Mugello it is normal that you put your mind in Silverstone and Assen and think that without those crashes I could be much closer to Casey. But the important thing now is that we can be much more competitive and much faster, so now we can fight with more possibilities.”