MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo confirms Catalan Grand Prix wildcard with Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo will be back on the MotoGP grid in 2020 after confirming his wildcard appearance at the Catalan Grand Prix. 

The announcement comes just four months after Lorenzo announced his retirement from racing in Valencia. Lorenzo endured a tough time with Repsol Honda and was plagued by injury. However, the five-time world champion will now line-up at his home race on June 7 onboard a factory Yamaha YZR-M1.

Lorenzo was signed as Yamaha’s test rider in January and immediately rumours begin to surface about a potential wildcard appearance. However, few people expected a decision to be made this early. Lorenzo completed two-days of testing at the Sepang shakedown and official tests in February, and immediately felt at home on the M1. 

The 32-year-old made the announcement this morning through a video on his social media channels. “So, after some weeks thinking about it, yesterday I decided that I will participate in the Catalan GP,” Lorenzo said in the video. “I’m really looking forward to it and I hope to see you there!”

The Catalan Grand Prix will be Lorenzo’s first race for Yamaha since Valencia in 2016, when he won his final race for the factory team. During his nine-year stint with Yamaha, Lorenzo won three MotoGP titles and remains the only rider to have beaten Marc Marquez in the premier class.

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