VOL. 53 ISSUE 18 MAY 10, 2016 P89
But motorcycle racing is a sub-
tle as well as a brutal sport. Rider
and bike have to be able to work
as one. Often each has to change
to suit the other, a demanding and
time-consuming process. How
Jorge and the Ducati Corse engi-
neers achieve this promises to be
fascinating.
It will the big-
gest adventure in
his racing life, and
the riskiest.
In his 15-year
career, Jorge has
not been devoid
of passion. He
started the day he turned 15 on a
125 Derbi. It didn't take long for
him to gain a fiery reputation: fly-
ing fists in the pit-box, a row with
his manager-father, and so on.
Now aged 28, the adult Lorenzo is
very different, at least outwardly:
self-contained and rather enig-
matic.
But in place of passion he
promises to provide motivation,
rebooted by the very act of walk-
ing from the predictable comfort
of Japan to the episodic drama
of Italy: "The most important and
difficult decision of my career," he
said.
There were other things in fa-
vor. One major factor was his past
relationship with and respect for
(ex-Aprilia) Ducati Corse boss Gigi
Dall'Igna—each described the oth-
er as "a genius" at Jerez. Another
that the current iteration of the
Desmosedici is fast, and test rider
Casey Stoner has proved it can
go faster than either of the current
riders have managed. Even so,
both have made the rostrum.
Importantly also Jorge will be
the number one rider. At Yamaha
he has to share the position with
Rossi. Status apart, this also
means a clearer technical focus.
He explained that, "probably I'll
have more power to create the
bike I want to ride."
But the main reason, he in-
sisted, was the need to keep his
motivation fresh.
"After so many years, to give
maximum effort every day—I think
I am one of the most professional
Max Biaggi in 2012. Aprilia was now planning a MotoGP
return, only to find their star engineer planned to leave.
Dall'Igna had been head-hunted by Ducati.
New methods, and most especially new organization
worked wonders. In 2015 teamster Andrea Dovizioso
was joined by Andrea Iannone, and a revised Des-
mosedici took pole position in the opening round. Rider
Dovi went on to finish second there, and at the next two
races as well.
Long-standing understeer problems had been sorted,
but race wins continued to prove elusive on into 2016. The
Dukes were up front, but not so far at the front.
Can proven winner Lorenzo provide the magic bullet?
Preziosi was
brave in his
designs, but the
results dropped
significantly
after 2007.
One of these
two riders will
not be Lorenzo's
teammate in
2017, but which
one? Dovi (04) or
Iannone (29)?
