Who knows what might be going through the mind of Jorge Lorenzo this evening? He has qualified in pole position for tomorrow’s final race at the 2010 Silverstone MotoGP; a race whose result could significantly contribute to Lorenzo’s championship hopes.
We are only at the fifth round of the 2010 MotoGP but already it’s been an eventful season, not least with Valentino Rossi out for most of the year with a serious injury.
As we said, that leaves the Yamaha MotoGP box half empty, a team without its favourite rider, and a nation without its number one sportstar.
That said, the debate around the paddock at Silverstone is over the pros and cons for Lorenzo in being the sole flag bearer for Fiat Yamaha.
You might think there are no negative points in it for Lorenzo – perhaps the biggest challenge to the grand prix championship, not to mention the media’s favourite rivalry focus, has been sidelined due to injury, leaving him with a clear path to victory.
Very neat.
But, as a colleague of mine who interviewed Lorenzo yesterday said, it’s not always as it seems.
The Spanish rider is not everyone’s favourite GP guy, especially for the Italians who have often accused him of trying to ride the coat tails of the success of Valentino’s personality.
In fact, Lorenzo does seem a mixed kettle of fish.
He is certainly reserved and cryptic, which are traits that aren’t always appreciated by a sports loving public.
Lorenzo Silverstone Yamaha box The journalist (who also speaks Spanish) who interviewed Lorenzo however, chatted to me about how this enigma on the MotoGP circuit appeared to him.
Lorenzo was amiable, relaxed and friendly – not necessarily an easy feat for someone who has practically been unanimously nominated this year’s MotoGP champion (at only round five).
We’re agreed that this could be a good moment for Lorenzo to stop playing second fiddle to Rossi and settle into his own way of doing things.
That’s not to say, though, that Rossi’s exit from scene is to the complete advantage of Lorenzo.
As Dovizioso says, a team with a healthy rivalry produces good results and Lorenzo will now find he has to shoulder those good results all on his own, without the extra motivation of a teammate he loves to beat.
It also leaves Lorenzo without the core thing that he was out to prove – that he could win the championship with Valentino Rossi still in there fighting for it as well.
Perhaps not a bad thing, you may think, as now instead of ‘proving’ himself he can focus on the job at hand.
I for one, will believe that if Jorge Lorenzo wins the 2010 MotoGP championship it was because he was always capable of it, whether Rossi was on the scene or not.
And what we will appreciate tomorrow is a Lorenzo capable of taking to the track and showing the rider he is without the shadow of his teammate around – there is always something to prove, it’s just not always in comparison to something else.
Lorenzo is happy about his qualifying efforts and is feeling very comfortable about tomorrow.
Expect a concentrated Lorenzo in pole position tomorrow….