Sepang MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo resigned to title defeat

Jorge Lorenzo has conceded his MotoGP world title hopes are over, but refused to single out his four crashes as the prime reason for his likely defeat to Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.

Lorenzo has thrown away vital points with crashes in Jerez, Donington Park, Brno and Phillip Island putting a huge dent in his title hopes.

A high-speed tumble at the first corner in last weekend’s Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island has left the 22-year-old 38-points adrift of Rossi with two races remaining.

And while Lorenzo is still mathematically in with a shout of claiming the title, Lorenzo said: “I made a fantastic season and I won a lot of races and we can finish second.

“That is a good result but it seems it is not enough for the press and for the people but I am fine with it.

“To have second on my shoulder is good for next year and to start with good motivation.”

And while acknowledging that his mistakes had been pivotal, he was also quick to pay tribute to Rossi’s performances as the Italian stands on the brink of a ninth premier class world championship.

“The mistakes are one of the points why I didn’t win the championship but also Valentino crashed a lot of times.

“One thing is the crashes but another thing is that Valentino has been faster or more of a complete rider than me in the majority of the races,“ Lorenzo told MCN in the Sepang paddock this afternoon.