Jorge Lorenzo makes Yamaha MotoGP return

UPDATE: Jorge Lorenzo improved his lap time steadily throughout the day to eventually finish eighth fastest and +1.062s from Pol Espargaro (KTM), having effectively matched his qualifying time for Repsol Honda at last November's Malaysian Grand Prix.

It is rumoured that Lorenzo will now ride at the upcoming Official Test, alongside the full 2020 grid.

Jorge Lorenzo makes Yamaha MotoGP return

UPDATE: Jorge Lorenzo improved his lap time steadily throughout the day to eventually finish eighth fastest and +1.062s from Pol Espargaro (KTM), having effectively matched his qualifying time for Repsol Honda at last November's Malaysian Grand Prix.

It is rumoured that Lorenzo will now ride at the upcoming Official Test, alongside the full 2020 grid.

Recently retired triple MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has completed his first Yamaha laps since 2016, during the third and final day of the Sepang Shakedown test.

The Spaniard made his MotoGP debut with Yamaha in 2008, going on to win 44 races and all three of his premier-class titles on an M1 before switching to Ducati (2017-2018) and finally Honda (2019).

Having announced his retirement at November's season finale, the 32-year-old completed last week's trio of heavyweight Yamaha contracts when he was announced as the factory's new MotoGP test rider.

Although absent during days one and two of the Shakedown, Lorenzo - who suffered a string of injuries last season, most notably back fractures at Assen - took to the Malaysian track shortly before 10:30am on Tuesday.

Lorenzo set a 2m 4.650s during his opening four-lap stint, then spent a long time in the garage before making his second run, where he knocked one-second off his lap time, before breaking into the 2m 2s on his third run.

KTM's Pol Espargaro leads the way with a 1m 59.444s, which is the best lap of the test so far.

CLICK HERE for the latest updates from the Shakedown test via @Crash_MotoGP

The Shakedown, which precedes the Official Test, is open to test riders from all six MotoGP manufacturers, plus rookies and race riders from the Concession factories (KTM and Aprilia).

Given that he has missed two-thirds of the Shakedown, it would not be a surprise if - as was the case with another former champion turned test rider, Casey Stoner - Lorenzo also participated in the Official Test, alongside the complete 2020 grid, which runs from February 7-9.

Former rival Dani Pedrosa, now a test rider for KTM, was fastest on the previous two days but looks to have handed over to Mika Kallio for the final day of the Shakedown.

While Pedrosa, now in his second season of testing duties, has ruled out any wild-cards they remain an option for Lorenzo, who is working with Valentino Rossi's former crew chief Silvano Galbusera at the Yamaha Test Team:

'No wild-card rides are planned for Lorenzo in 2020… [but] Yamaha is open to the possibility, should he decide to race again,' said the statement confirming Lorenzo's new testing role.

Picture used with permission of @Hazrin

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