MotoGP Gossip: Lorenzo calls Rossi ‘slow’ and ‘imprecise’...

In this week’s MotoGP Gossip column, Jorge Lorenzo gives his thoughts on the Jerez race and several riders including former team-mate Valentino Rossi who he calls ‘slow’ and imprecise’, Mat Oxley analyses Pedro Acosta’s Moto3 rise and comparisons to Marc Marquez, and Alex Criville says Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia are ready to fight at every race following Jerez one-two.
Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, Catalunya MotoGP, 2009,
Jorge Lorenzo, Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, Catalunya MotoGP, 2009,
© Gold and Goose Photography

Jorge Lorenzo has never been one to hold anything back whether during or after his MotoGP racing career and it’s the prime reason why he splits opinion. 

And it was no different following round four at Jerez as Lorenzo discussed various rider performances from the race on his 99seconds YouTube channel. 

One of the riders analysed was his former Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi. Lorenzo called Rossi ‘slow’ and ‘imprecise’ with his exact words being: "I expected a lot more from him in Jerez, or at least an improvement in his results. They didn’t show him much on TV, and in one of the few times he was going off track, he was imprecise. 

"And instead he is normally one of the most precise. Not only is he slow, he is slow in his movements, but sometimes he is also imprecise in corner entry. We’ll see if he will be able to surprise us." [Gpone.com]

Remote video URL

You can also watch the 99seconds video where he discusses Jack Miller’s win - while complimentary of the Aussie following their social media spat earlier this year, he also believes Miller ‘lacks a bit the solidity to win’. [99seconds]

One of the storylines of 2021 has been in Moto3 with Pedro Acosta. The young Spaniard’s second place in Qatar followed by three consecutive wins - one from pit lane, is something we’ve never seen from any rider before.

But just as impressive as the results have been, is the way he’s achieving them which is drawing a lot of comparisons to a certain other Spaniard called Marc Marquez. Mat Oxley says there is an ‘aura of genius’ around Acosta, but asking the question of if Acosta is the next Marquez this early on is ‘stupid’ according to Oxley. You can read the article in full here. [MotorsportMagazine.com]

Finally, Alex Criville has admitted that Ducati’s first win in Jerez since Loris Capirossi in 2006 ‘sends a signal’ that they are ready to fight for wins at every round. Ducati have arguably had the potential to win any of the races in 2021 so far, and if success in the form of a championship is to come their way in 2021, it would be the first time since Casey Stoner won the title in 2007 that it’s happened. 

As reported by Speedweek, Criville said this about the situation in an interview with Spanish Sports Daily Marca: "From now on we will see Jack Miller and Francesco Bagnaia at the head of the field on every racetrack. You have made great progress and clinched a one-two victory in Jerez. In the past, Ducati drivers have always had difficulties there and rarely achieved great results." [Speedweek.com]

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