MotoGP: Lorenzo and Rossi hoping to bury the hatchet

Ex-teammates Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino have both told MCN that they’re hoping for an easier relationship between them going forwards, now that the five-time world champion has left Yamaha for Ducati after nine seasons.

Always sharing the honours of number one rider in their time together at the Yamaha squad, Lorenzo admitted that there has always been tension – but thinks that the change in circumstance should help to ease it now.

“It always that when you have two cocks on the same farm it’s difficult – that’s always the way it is. The same in Repsol with Doohan and Criville, or in Formula One with Senna and Prost – it’s always hard, because you want to beat the guy with the same bike or the same car.

“It’s difficult to be friends with a rider you want to destroy. Finally, now, Rossi and I will still compete in the same category but with a different bike, and that makes a big difference.”

The Italian agreed with his former teammate’s analysis of their circumstances, saying that a few shared words between the pair in the garage following the last race of the season in Valencia means that they’re finally going forward on a good foot.

“It was a good moment. After the end of last year especially, our relationship wasn’t a good one, but we’ve been together for a long time. He came to me and said good words about our relationship and it was a nice moment, and I’m happy with how it ended.”