Motegi MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo’s Yamaha test cancelled

Jorge Lorenzo’s planned first serious test session on board Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 in Japan next week has been cancelled.

The Spaniard was due to ride on Tuesday after this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP in the Twin Ring Motegi in a one-day test session.

But it is understood Aprilia have blocked the test to allow Jorge Lorenzo the chance to concentrate 100 per cent on wrapping his second world 250 crown.

Lorenzo goes into Sunday’s 23-lap race holding a 49-point lead over closest rival Andrea Dovizioso.

As part of his deal to join Valentino Rossi in Yamaha’s official factory team in 2008, Aprilia agreed he could test the bike before the end of the 2007 season.

But that position has changed, with bosses at his Fortuna Aprilia factory team reluctant to do anything which might jeopardise his world championship hopes.

A Yamaha source said: “The test has been cancelled at the request of Aprilia. They don’t want to do anything that might put at risk his current focus, which is to retain the world 250 championship.”

Jorge Lorenzo’s next test session is now likely to come immediately after the season’s final race in Valencia.

He will then test a further two more times in Sepang and Jerez before the winter testing ban kicks in on December 1, 2007.

Jorge Lorenzo has already ridden the YZR-M1 when he completed a handful of laps at the Almeria circuit in Spain during the August summer break.