The Jerez MotoGP testing has ended, and the teams and riders now take an extended break before 2008 testing continues. Perhaps, the most interesting rider to watch at Jerez has been Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo, for a couple of reasons.
Lorenzo is the double 250cc World champ, and next year will be his rookie year in the MotoGP class. His talent is huge, and expectations are high.
Until today, Lorenzo’s MotoGP lap times in testing have been decent. Today, Lorenzo broke through. Finishing with the third quickest time of the test, and at a virtual dead heat with last year’s NotoGP pole, he is already showing the talent Yamaha expects him to bring to the premier category next year.
The other interesting thing about Lorenzo is his tires. He is riding on Michelin Tires, while his teammate, Valentino Rossi, is on Bridgestone tires. As we reported, Rossi had very good lap times yesterday, but today pain in his recently injured hand slowed Rossi, and Lorenzo went more than 1/2 a second quicker than Rossi did during the three-day test.
It was also interesting to note that Michelin riders did very well at Jerez, with the Repsol Honda teammates Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden having the two quickest times.
