MOTOGP
FIM MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 7 / JUNE 5, 2016
CIRCUIT DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA / CATALONIA, SPAIN
P72
riders after Catalunya, because I was
worried about Mugello and Catalunya,
where the Yamahas are very strong.
Now we come to some circuits that I like
better."
Grasping at positives after the tragedy,
he spoke of how "this weekend was
again the atmosphere of the MotoGP
family. Everybody was racing for the
memory of Luis, full of respect. Another
thing that was important was to shake
hands with Valentino."
Lorenzo was already in trouble in the
race with his hard tires short of grip, and
looked as though he would be lucky to
finish sixth. He wouldn't get the chance,
as crash-happy Andrea Iannone put both
of them down in the gravel and himself
back in the dog house. The last time the
Italian collided with the rider in front of
Friday's fatality, he said. "Race weekend
is always difficult, but after what hap-
pened it was much harder to focus. This
was the best way to remember Salom,
homage to him. It's not much, but it's all
a rider can do."
After their race, he and Marquez
shook hands in parc ferme, seemingly
bringing to an end a deadly enmity that
began late last year, to the younger
rider's relief.
"All the race I was on the limit. My only
strong point was in T4 [the fourth sec-
tion, with two new first-gear corners], but
I almost crashed there. Then when I saw
'Jorge KO' on my board, my mentality
changed a bit."
Second would be enough to regain
the championship lead. "Before, my
target was to be not too far from the top
Jack Miller had his best ride of what has been a trying season so far, finishing in 10
th
place.
