Yamaha boss: Jorge Lorenzo a ‘winning machine’

Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis reckons reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo is a ‘winning machine’ after the Spaniard’s brilliant start to the defence of his crown in Qatar last weekend.

The 25-year-old recorded an emphatic start-to-finish victory at the Losail International Circuit to make the perfect start to his bid for a third premier class crown.

Lorenzo was never in any danger of being caught by title rivals Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez once he’d broken clear of the field with another exhibition in fast and consistent riding.

His success under the Losail International Circuit floodlights was the 24th of his MotoGP career and his latest triumph was hailed by Yamaha boss Jarvis, who persuaded Lorenzo to pen a new two-deal with the Japanese factory for 2013 and ’14, despite big interest from Honda.

Jarvis told MCN: “Jorge was not really a surprise but you are always nervous in case something goes wrong. But he got round those first two corners clean and I thought great because I knew his race pace was really good.

“The bottom line is that he is a winning machine. When he is on it he is just like clockwork and so fast. I didn’t see him make one mistake and he kept increasing that lead and that’s what makes him so difficult to beat for the others.”

For full coverage of the Qatar MotoGP race, see the April 10 issue of MCN.