MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo confident in Yamaha treatment

Double world 250 champion Jorge Lorenzo has said he is no doubt that he will get exactly the same treatment as Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s factory MotoGP squad in 2008.

Rossi and Lorenzo will both run in Fiat Yamaha colours this season, but will operate as two completely separate teams following Rossi’s controversial switch to Bridgestone tyres at the end of a nightmare 2007 campaign.

Having initially signed a contract on the understanding he would have identical technical equipment to Rossi, Lorenzo is confident that despite using different tyre brands, Yamaha will update his YZR-M1 with new parts at the same time as number one rider Rossi.

Lorenzo reckons he has no qualms about a dividing wall splitting him from Rossi’s side of the garage, with the Spaniard effectively having to learn the ropes in MotoGP on his own without the aid of a more experienced team-mate to share information with.

He can compare his data to fellow Yamaha/Michelin riders in Tech 3 duo Colin Edwards and James Toseland and he told MCN: “It doesn’t matter for me. Yamaha wanted this line of work and I have to accept it. For me it is fantastic to be in Yamaha. It is perfect like this.”

Lorenzo, who struggled recently during a three-day test session in Sepang, boasted: ”They know that after Valentino they have got a fast rider for the future in me, so they can help me.”