Jorge Lorenzo opened his trunk full of memories in his 99-second broadcast on YouTube and did not forget the 2018 Italian Grand Prix in the run-up to Mugello. It was a race in which he achieved his first victory with Ducati and at the same time marked the departure from the manufacturer Borgo Panigale. Until then, the results with the Desmosedici were far below expectations.
“I was the driver who had the best starts, the driver who braked the best, who braked later than anyone else. I was the one who got the bike upright at first and used all of Ducati’s power, but I suffered from the same problem again, had arm fatigue during the race and that made me slow my pace a lot and also a turning problem that led to it that the front wheel didn’t want to turn like the rear wheel. It was caused by the hideous aerodynamics, those big fins that had some kind of turbulence in the middle of the corner at maximum tilt, “he says.
So after the first GPs of the year, Lorenzo was without a bike.
“I scored 16 points in 4 races – he remembers – Petrucci, whom many practically placed as my replacement in Ducati, finished second at Le Mans, Suzuki seemed to want to bet on a younger driver, Joan Mir, so the doors of the Suzuki team were closed, Honda didn’t seem to give me any answers , and the only option that seemed open was Petronas ”.
It wasn’t an easy time for Jorge …
“Everything seemed black, all my thoughts were negative and I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel – he admits – I saw myself at 31 without a bike, there was the option of Petronas, but for me it was like taking” Three steps back after being on the works team, I was practically depressed. Between Le Mans and Mugello there was a test in Montmelò and while I was there in the hotel I got a surprising call from Alberto Puig and he said he didn’t want me to get too excited, but there is an opportunity to join the Honda team. I thought the main obstacle was Marquez, but they had already spoken to him and he had no problem with me joining the team. “
At that point his future was decided.
“We made a secret meeting with Alberto on the edge of the racetrack, and he made me the first offer – he continues his story – I had a few days to accept it and it was a pleasant surprise as I was expecting a lower offer due to the poor circumstances. I had to tell Albert (Valera) about it and a few days after the test we went to Puig’s house and signed the contract. We arrived at Mugello without this pressure to get results and happy and excited to sign with the strongest team in the championship.
This newfound serenity and his technique did the rest. Ducati supplied him with the famous new fuel tank made according to Jorge’s instructions, the smaller wings were a further aid and finally the Mallorcan worked on his driving style. The rest is history.