Brno Test: Jorge Lorenzo fast on 2011 prototype Yamaha

Jorge Lorenzo was immediately fast on a 2011 prototype factory Yamaha YZR-M1 in Brno yesterday as the Japanese factory began plotting how to defeat defecting Valentino Rossi at Ducati next season.

Lorenzo completed just 12 laps on the new bike at a rain disrupted Brno test but that was only 0.3s slower than his best time clocked on the Fiat Yamaha machine that he’s won seven out of ten races on so far this season.

Lorenzo topped the timesheets with a fastest time of 1.56.269 that put him a massive 0.575s clear of Australian Casey Stoner in second.

His best time in a short stint on the prototype version of Yamaha’s new bike was a of 1.56.5.

As well as testing the 2011 prototype bike, the Spaniard also assessed a set of 2011 spec Ohlins front forks.

Yamaha also rolled out several new engine parts for its 2010 YZR-M1 engine designed for more top end power.

The motor is likely to be used by Lorenzo and team-mate Valentino Rossi in the latter part of the season with Yamaha satisfied that it has attained good durability with the horsepower increase.

The 23-year-old said: “It was an interesting day because we had to try so many things and I rode the new prototype for next year. The new bike doesn’t seem to be worse than this year because the lap time is already good.

“I adapted to the bike very fast and in some laps I was very close to the lap times of this year’s bike. It is not much better but at least we found some solutions with this bike.”

We had some engine parts for this year too and we may use them later this year, but it depends on the dyno. It seems a little bit more powerful but not a big difference.

“The new chassis is not so much better. It has some parts positive and some negative and we still don’t know if it is better or worse. The chassis feels more stable under braking and helps keep the rear wheel on the ground. But on the exit of the corner it felt worse.”

Lorenzo denied that it would be a big risk by using upgraded engine parts he tested in Brno at some stage in the final eight races.

The parts could be used in two engines that the double world 250GP champion has still to use in his allocation of six.

He told MCN: “If Yamaha decides to go with this new engine it will be because they understand it is not risky. Japanese people have a lot of caution, so if they give us this engine it is because they know it is safe.”

On his first impressions of the new Ohlins front forks, he said: “I don’t like so much at the moment. But maybe we will try again.”