Lorenzo Urges Yamaha to Improve

Following the first test of the off-season, it was pretty clear what bike will be the pace setter heading into the 2011 MotoGP season. Honda topped all 3 days of testing at Sepang last week and the general feel was that they could easily improve in the weeks to come. And unless their rivals don't make the necessary adjustments fast, we might get to witness an all-Honda run for the title in 2011.

Sensing that his Yamaha bike will not go the distance under its current form, reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo send out a clear message to his team this week: work on the engine and improve horsepower, otherwise he can kiss defending his MotoGP title good bye in 2011.

“We need more power, so more speed when accelerating, and better traction, always for the same goal: we aren't strong yet at turn exit,” evaluated Lorenzo in a recent interview with Italian magazine Autosprint.

“The new engine is more or less like the previous one. The most evident progress is in the anti-spin system, because it's more efficient now. (...) It does help, but we need more horsepower,” he insisted, while also admitting that he's not particularly happy with how the chassis of his 2011-spec machine was set up.

Lorenzo also warned that unless his team finds a solution to the lack of power, he will no longer be a contender for the 2011 title. Especially since Honda is no longer breathing down Yamaha's neck, but the other way around.

“I'm not saying it's not a winner anymore,” added Lorenzo about his new bike. “I'm saying that in order to win the number of races won last year we need progress. At the moment, I think this bike would not enable me to repeat a successful season like 2010. Honda is going very well: they started to make up ground midway through last year and now they've made another step forward. This must worry us.”