MotoGP legend Jorge Lorenzo returned to action this weekend at the 2019 Go Pro British Grand Prix after a Free Practice crash at Assen in June ruled the five-times World Champion out of action until the sunny bank holiday weekend in August.
On his return, Lorenzo completed the weekend without a crash, racking up the laps onboard his HRC RC213 V. Despite a poor weekend on paper, Lorenzo said he’s happy to be “out of danger” after completing the “survival weekend” at the British Circuit. Despite featuring at the bottom of the timesheets over the course of the weekend, the Mallorcan preferred not crashing again overreaching the limits of his Honda our of “fear” of aggravating his injuries.
Lorenzo managed to race to fourteenth after a couple of retirements ahead and battled race-long with Tech 3 KTM’s Hafizh Syahrin. Lorenzo compared his weekend to Laguna Seca in 2013, where he also returned to action after having surgery on the broken collarbone sustained in Assen earlier in the year.
Speaking after the weekend Lorenzo said: “Today went better than expected. Coming into this race I knew it would be difficult and I was thinking that maybe I will finish one minute or more behind the winner because all weekend I have been about three seconds slower than the fastest time. To finish within one minute of the winner and to take away two points is a good reward for a demanding race. I was able to learn more about how to conserve the tyres as well as testing my fitness so I am pleased. Right now I am sore, but I will be stronger for the Misano test and then again in a better physical condition for the Misano race.”
Misano has been a happy hunting ground for Lorenzo, racking up five premier class podiums along with three wins on the bounce in 2011-2013.
Lorenzo will be working on strengthening his back ahead of the pre-race test at Misano before the race weekend, after admitting he lost touch with Syahrin at Silverstone due to back pain.
Round thirteen of the MotoGP championship takes place in Misano on the 13-15th September.
