Pressure on Jorge Lorenzo to win MotoGP crown

Jorge Lorenzo will be under immense pressure to deliver his first MotoGP world crown in 2010, according to Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha team boss Davide Brivio.

The Spaniard is poised to start his third season in MotoGP but as yet has failed to convert huge potential into claiming the premier class crown.

In contrast, Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi won his first MotoGP title at the second attempt in 2001 when he was riding a Honda NSR two-stroke.

And Aussie Casey Stoner cruised to his maiden world title at the second attempt in 2007 when he dominated the inaugural 800cc world championship for Ducati.

And Rossi’s factory Yamaha team boss  Brivio believes said it was time for the 22-year-old to deliver having finished third and second in his previous two campaigns.

“In the first two years he didn’t win like Casey and Valentino did, but I think going into 2010 it will be a different year and its kind of a new start. Talking about the top four, none of them are rookies anymore.

“They are all potential world champions and now it is a big fight between them for the world championship. Whoever finishes second will be a loser. This is a condition that Valentino has had for the last ten years really.

“Casey has been in this situation too in 2008 and ’09 but now Jorge is in this situation. Now there can be no more excuses, you have to win the title,” Brivio told MCN.

Lorenzo will start the new season close to full fitness having recovered well from a badly broken thumb.

The new MotoGP season gets underway on April 11 at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar.

Check out the April 7 issue of MCN for a free 32-page glossy preview of the 2010 campaign.