Sachsenring MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo sorry for baulking Valentino Rossi

Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo has apologised to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi after he inadvertently baulked the Italian on a fast qualifying lap this afternoon.

As Lorenzo rounded the final turn to pull into the pits, he was unaware that Rossi was immediately behind him and on a lap that looked like at least securing him a place on the second row.

Rossi though had to settle for seventh, while Lorenzo will start two places further up the grid after he clocked a best time of 1.21.795.

“I’m sorry really that Valentino was behind me on one of his fast laps, I was slowing down to go into the pits and I wasn’t aware that he was there. In fact I didn’t know anything about it until afterwards but I am very sorry that it happened, especially when he was doing such a good lap. We’ve worked very hard this weekend and I am happy to be on the second row, it’s an improvement and with the Michelin qualifying tyres I was able to go quite fast. However with the race tyre we still have problems and it’s very frustrating; we don’t have enough grip with the rear and this means I don’t have enough confidence in the bike and I can’t ride fast. More than ever today, I am finding it very hard to understand how I was so fast earlier on in the season and now I am so slow! All we can do is keep working and not stop, in order to try to find the confidence we are lacking. I hope tomorrow that I can make the most of starting on the second row, try to stay with the leading riders and hopefully enjoy my race.”