Lorenzo: Rossi not fading yet

Mon, 23 Jan 18:26:00 2012

Valentino Rossi has not passed his peak and is still capable of returning to the top of MotoGP, insists his former team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

Valentino Rossi - 0

After leaving Yamaha for Ducati in 2011, Rossi endured his first ever win-less season at world championship level.

But Lorenzo, who was Rossi's Yamaha team-mate from 2008-10, dismissed any suggestion that the Italian seven-time MotoGP champion's career was in decline.

"There's no age limit," Lorenzo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "[Carlos] Checa at 39 in superbikes is in his top form. Valentino is 33, he hasn't weakened."

Lorenzo suggested that Rossi's problem was not that his talent was fading, but that MotoGP was now so competitive it was harder to pull off good results on a difficult bike than it had been in the past.

"Today in MotoGP there are many strong riders," Lorenzo said. "To win you need a great feeling with your bike."

The Spaniard thinks Ducati faces a tough task to close the gap on Honda and Yamaha in 2012, but sees no reason why it cannot eventually rediscover title-winning form.

"It's an unknown quantity," said Lorenzo of Ducati. "It won't be easy to reach Yamaha and Honda, but Ducati beat them in the past. It's a small factory but with a lot of technology and a great rider in Valentino."

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Comment 1 - 16 of 16

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  1. JB, Rossi and Ducati build a complete new bike for 2012­ season.. dear I say, it will be much like a read yamaha­ up there.. they certainly have all the data to make­ one.. :D.. actually I dont care, as long as it is fast­ and he will be up the front with it again..

    From Tamas, on Sat 28 Jan 22:51

  2. well maybe he is not yet fading, but neither he is not­ improving like the younger one.

    From Carlito, on Sat 28 Jan 21:24

  3. Hirst you is on the button there mate!!!

    From ALEX, on Wed 25 Jan 15:59

  4. If Jorge really believed that he wouldn't have said­ it publicly. These guys never big up their rivals that­ they see as a serious threat. If Valentino were to win­ the first race (unlikely), the flattery will dry up­ very quickly. Here's hoping that happens

    From Hirst, on Wed 25 Jan 9:37

  5. Nicely respecting the other riders. I agree, Lorenzo is­ maturing.

    From zsazsuka, on Wed 25 Jan 6:49

  6. vale has had to many bad moments over the last to­ sesons there are always dark places big or small in ­ even the most talented of pros i canot see him or­ ducati turning things around you have a chance with­ tenths of a second but not with tenths of a min in­ moto gp yamaha and honda are so far ahead with there­ bike and rider develepment that there is to much ground­ for for anyone to make up even the goat ­ from dark horse 64

    From ianI, on Wed 25 Jan 4:37

  7. I don't care what anyone says, a competitive field­ is good for racing. There's no question Rossi has­ what it takes to beat them, but Ducati can't sit­ back and think that the other factory teams aren't­ working on better, faster machines themselves.
    Stoner­ had a good season last year, let's see if the top­ tier guys can answer the challenge. Bring on the­ racing!

    From CBR, on Wed 25 Jan 2:06

  8. Oh Dear Here's somone trying to play Rossui at his­ own game

    From Brian, on Tue 24 Jan 17:57

  9. Lorenzo's mind games....... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

    From ceeel_1927, on Tue 24 Jan 17:21

  10. Rossi's mistake was allowing his shoulder injury to­ get worse.

    Talent improves with every new generation,­ and it's been many years since his first title, but­ Rossi's talent isn't exactly 2nd tier today,­ even with the new guys. And if healthy, Rossi has as­ much a chance at the title as anybody today.

    From Otelio Garcia, on Tue 24 Jan 13:58

  11. Rossi will come stronger this year , Hope ducati have­ strong bike for him in 2012..............

    From joe, on Tue 24 Jan 11:33

  12. Didn't Rossi beat them all together? Didn't he­ beat Stoner back in Laguna or lorenzo in Catalunya?­ Pedrosa? he was no rival to Rossi.

    @Callum, lol eh??­ Seems Lorenzo knows more than Stoner already !!

    From M, on Tue 24 Jan 10:42
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    what he after?

    From Anthony, on Tue 24 Jan 10:13

  14. It seems that Lorenzo is maturing. Good for him.

    From In_winning_mode, on Tue 24 Jan 6:35

  15. just good news

    From WILFRED, on Tue 24 Jan 5:30
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Lol

    From callum_mansell, on Tue 24 Jan 4:35
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