Misano MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo set for more 2011 talks

Jorge Lorenzo confirmed in Misano today that he will try and make some headway this weekend into solving the contract issues that have seen him fail to agree a new factory Yamaha deal for 2011.

The 23-year-old recently told MCN that negotiations were locked in stalemate when he said: “I’m very good in Yamaha and I know the bike and the bike is now competitive.

“In theory the possibility to stay in Yamaha is the highest possibility but at the moment everything is possible. Now the situation is a little frozen but I hope that this chapter can be closed before the end of the year.”

The stumbling block in clinching a deal appears to be Yamaha’s reluctance to meet Lorenzo’s wage demands, with the 2010 MotoGP title favourite demanding a big salary increase following Valentino Rossi’s departure to Ducati.

Yamaha remains confident a deal for the double world 250GP champion will be signed imminently, given Lorenzo has little option but to ride a factory YZR-M1 next season.

Compatriot Dani Pedrosa has not yet signed a new deal with Honda’s official factory team but a new deal is close to being confirmed.

Lorenzo, who leads Pedrosa by 68-points going into Sunday’s Misano clash, said: “My manager Marcos (Hirsch) is coming to Misano this weekend to speak with Yamaha. I hope we can have a solution now in the next few weeks.”

Yamaha confirmed that American Ben Spies will replace Rossi in the factory Yamaha squad during last weekend’s Indianapolis MotoGP round.