MotoGP: Yamaha back Lorenzo to make instant MotoGP impact

Reigning world 250 champion Jorge Lorenzo will make an instant impact in the 2008 MotoGP world championship.

That’s the view of his new boss Lin Jarvis, Managing Director of Yamaha Racing, with the Spaniard joining seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi in the official Fiat backed squad next season.

Jorge Lorenzo, who took a giant stride towards retaining his world 250 crown in Brno yesterday (Sunday, August 19, 2007) with his seventh win of the campaign, has already tested a Yamaha YZR-M1 during the recent summer break.

Lin Jarvis believes Jorge Lorenzo is capable of challenging for podiums and race wins from the first race in Qatar next season.

“At this moment obviously Valentino Rossi is our number one rider and in the past, this year and next year we expect Valentino Rossi will continue to be the leading number one rider.

“I think Jorge Lorenzo’s profile speaks for itself. I believe he will be champion this year and clearly he has got a lot of talent. I think he will be very, very fast,”said Lin Jarvis, who believes that Jorge Lorenzo is likely to make more of an immediate impact in MotoGP next season than fellow new recruit James Toseland, who will partner Colin Edwards in the Tech 3 team.

“James Toseland has the talent for sure but he may need more time because he has to learn the circuits and the environment like the paddock.

“You never know when that spark might happen, it needs several things to come together. With James Toseland maybe it will happen straightaway, maybe it will take a year, but with Jorge Lorenzo I think there is more chance that he will perform immediately at a higher level because of his MotoGP experience, “added Lin Jarvis.