Jorge Lorenzo backs India MotoGP bid

Former world champion Jorge Lorenzo has thrown his support behind plans to stage a MotoGP race in India in the future after he visited the Buddh International Circuit.

The Spaniard was in India to make a special appearance at the Auto Expo before he completed a lap of the impressive Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on a Yamaha R15.

Dorna is currently in negotiations with Indian officials about hosting a MotoGP race in 2013 and factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo said: “The track is very modern and wide. I think it is quite prepared and ready to be on the calendar. I believe it will be exciting to ride with many overtaking opportunities.

“The Indian people I have met have been very kind and gentle, I would like to see more of India in the future with more time; we didn’t get to see so much in just two days here.”

Lorenzo will be back in action on Yamaha’s new factory YZR-M1 MotoGP bike at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on January 31.

It will be the first time he has ridden a MotoGP bike since his 2011 season was ended in premature and painful fashion when he crashed during the warm-up session for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

He lost 8mm off the tip of his left ring finger and was forced to miss the last two races in Sepang and Valencia.