Lorenzo steps out with Repsol
Spanish star fronts cameras for the first time since controversial team switchJorge Lorenzo has made his first public appearance in Repsol Honda colours, with the New Year marking the official end of the Spaniard's two-year contract with the factory Ducati squad and allowing the five-time world champ to speak freely for the first time about his upcoming 2019 season.
Joining seven-time and current MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez in arguably the strongest team in the series' history, Lorenzo has had two official outings on the 2019 RCV213V, which on the outside looks to be a far more refined machine compared to the notoriously aggressive bike of the previous few years.
"The feeling on the bike is fantastic for the moment – obviously I still need to improve my riding style on the bike, I still need to make the bike more to my style, but the beginning has been fantastic," he revealed, saying that the reaction time of the Reposl Honda team has been a major factor in his early adaptation.
"The team's so big, so professional, everything is perfect. They pay me a lot of attention and they bring me all that I ask – this is very important, I feel loved by them."
Lorenzo's signing for 2019 will mark his inclusion in three teams in four years, after spending the last two seasons with the factory Ducati squad after nine seasons with Yamaha.
"In one way [the latest switch] will be more difficult, because when you stay on the same bike you get better and better and better, you get more of the secrets," he said.
"But for the other part I have the excitement and the challenge, and I have this extra excitement and extra challenge that the rest of the riders doesn't have, so you lose for one part but you gain for another."
Talking about his rival and new teammate Marc Marquez, Lorenzo said his younger compatriot's experience on the Honda means he has plenty to learn from the 2018 world champ, but he was quick not to put the number 93 above him in terms of what they have to offer.
"He is very fast, so it will be a nice experience to try and learn a lot of things from him," he said.
"But I'm he sure he can also learn a lot of things from me and this competition between two champions like we are will make our team stronger – technically, but also in terms of speed on the track."
Related reading:
Lorenzo to join Marquez at Honda
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