Jorge Lorenzo may have used a qualifying tyre to set an impressive third fastest lap time by the conclusion of the
Jerez test, but team manager Daniele Romagnoli revealed that the 250cc world champion's first ever race simulation was also highly impressive.
"Jorge keeps on improving his feeling with the bike and now we can say that he finally feels comfortable with it," said Romagnoli. "Today we completed a long run that was definitely positive, especially since it's the first one for Jorge riding the M1. He was very fast, even faster than the 2007 race pace. Finally he tested two qualifying tyres that enabled him to lower his best time by one second, and we consider this to be a very good result."
The new Fiat Yamaha rider thus finished his third
MotoGP test 0.902secs behind fastest man
Dani Pedrosa, with the second Repsol Honda of former world champion 0.616secs ahead.
"I felt very comfortable with the M1 [today] and during the race simulation I had very positive impressions," stated Lorenzo. "The lap times are becoming faster and faster, and this means that we are working in the right direction. The traction on the rear is improving, thanks also to the new material from Michelin, so I am satisfied.
"Actually I didn't expect to be so fast in the race simulation; I went beyond my expectations," he revealed. "At the end of the third day we can say that this has been a very good test session and my overall feeling is, of course, better than after the Sepang test. I am looking forward to being back at Sepang, in January, to test new engine specifications and to try to be even faster."
