The traditional press conference of the MotoGP riders in view of the imminent Australian GP – penultimate round of the 2012 World Championship – was attended by Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing), Repsol Honda duo Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) and James Ellison (Paul Bird Motorsport).
With a 23-point lead and two rounds remaining, Jorge Lorenzo could actually end up being crowned MotoGP World Champion this weekend – in fact, all he needs to do is basically finish the race ahead of main rival Pedrosa – but the Spaniard prefers to stay focused on what’s just around the corner.
“It’s only two races until the end – said the championship leader – so more than ever we must be really concentrated and really focussed on not making any mistakes.
Anyway, we have the opportunity to arrive in Valencia with the possibility to be world champion.
We’ll try to finish on the podium this time.
In a general view we are thinking about the championship, but for sure it’s better just to concentrate on the next practice, then the next one, qualifying and then the race.
It would be great [to win the title here] and we have to possibility to do it, but we are not going to make ourselves crazy just to do it.
”Phillip Island saw Lorenzo’s 2011 campaign end last year with a nasty finger injury, but the Mallorcan is not dwelling on that: “Last year was a really bad year for us, especially after my crash in the warm-up with my big injury, but it could also happen in another track, so I don’t have any bad feelings about this track.
Phillip Island is a very special track; very different from another.
When you go into the first corner and do a lap you realize how different it is.
It’s really narrow, really fast, and the landscape is wonderful.
It’s great to ride here, especially when the weather is perfect and there is no wind or rain.
” read what the other riders had to say right after the jump.
Pedrosa has been on a winning streak recently, and is out for the win once more: “There is no difference now from the last races, so I’ll just try to go out, do some good practices, try to enjoy it and keep focussed as usual and ride well.
Riding here is always very special.
There are many corners where you can steer the bike with the gas.
There are some times when it’s really cold, but sometimes it’s wonderful to be here with this horsepower, especially into the last corner going onto the main straight and up the hill.
” With regards to taking the title down to the wire at the next round the Spaniard said: “It would be good [to have a title battle in Valencia], as there are two Spaniards fighting for the championship and the final round is in Spain.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this position, fighting until the end.
”Teammate Stoner is looking to make it six wins in a row at the track: “It’s the last time I’m going to be racing here, as there are only two races to go in the season and my career, so it’s been built up to be a very big weekend.
I’m still going to attack it as I have done always.
In some ways it’s no different to me than any other weekend, except that I do really enjoy this track, I love it.
”However, his injury is not progressing in the way he hoped: “It’s definitely worse than when we came back in Japan.
We’re having a lot more trouble with it day to day, just getting around on it at all.
But I don’t think it will affect me any differently on the bike.
The biggest moment I’m having at the moment is flexibility on the bike trying to get it working.
Fortunately on this track there are not too many right hand corner that are so critical, so we should be a little more comfortable riding around here.
The main fitness problem I’m having at the moment is endurance.
”Ducati Team’s Rossi, also a five time winner at the track, loves it around here: “Phillip Island is more or less the favourite of all the riders because it is something different and something special compared to the others.
It’s very fast and it’s always a great feeling to ride a motorbike here.
Last year was a very bad weekend for us.
I was very slow, maybe one of the worst.
We are very concentrated to give the maximum and do better.
”Paul Bird Motorsport’s Ellison, who has had a tricky season so far, is confident a new engine will see his results improve: “It’s been a difficult season for me, but I’ve just tried to keep my head down and get the results.
I’m really enjoying it; really enjoy riding the bike, and developing it.
The development’s not coming on as fast as I was hoping.
We just got a new engine in Aragón, but it’s just the one and we’re only allowed to use it in the warm-up and in the race.
It’s quite a big step, so if we can save it for the races here and in Valencia we can keep closing the gap to the Aspar boys.
”