Brno MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo prepares for new engine test

MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Lorenzo has confirmed he will test a new factory Yamaha YZR-M1 motor in Brno next Monday.

The Spaniard, who holds a commanding 72-point lead over closest rival Dani Pedrosa heading into the second half of the season, will evaluate a new in-line four-cylinder motor in the post race test.

The 23-year-old said he wasn’t sure whether the new motor was a prototype for 2011 or whether it was an upgraded spec that Yamaha intended to roll out in the final stages of the season.

Lorenzo still has two new engines in his allocation of six available for 2010, so it is possible that his final two could be the new spec if the Monday test is a success.

The double world 250GP champion, who is yet to finish lower than second place in 2010, said: “It is an important test on Monday because I think Yamaha will bring some new engine parts so it will be interesting to see what we have.

“I hope we have more power because we are a little behind compared to Ducati and Honda overall.”

Despite being in such a dominant position in the championship, Lorenzo insists he is taking nothing for granted.

With such an advantage in the points over Repsol Honda rival Pedrosa, Lorenzo is a red-hot favourite to succeed Valentino Rossi as world champion.

But the Fiat Yamaha rider, who maintains he still hasn’t signed a new Yamaha deal for 2011, said: “It is a very big lead and in Laguna I made a very big step forward with my victory and Dani’s crash.

“But nine races to go it is a lot and history shows that there are riders who had the same advantage as me and didn’t win the championship. So I must stay concentrated because anything is possible.”

Lorenzo conceded it would be an immensely difficult challenge to maintain his sparkling form of the opening nine races.

He’s only dropped 15-points in the opening nine rounds and has won six times, including four in the last five races.

He added: “It will be very difficult to repeat the first half of the season. But this is not our goal. Our goal is to finish races and not to make so mistakes and to be on the podium in the most races we can.

“My main goal is to win the world title, so if I am in a situation where I can win or finish second that’s okay.

“The championship is more important than to be fighting with Valentino for race wins.  The next years will be different but for now the goal is to win the world title.”