Jorge Lorenzo concedes he will run “a survival race” on his Repsol Honda debut in Qatar after suffering two crashes which have each triggered major concerns.
A heavy high-side off during the opening stages of FP3 saw Lorenzo miss the remainder of the session to have x-rays before being given the green light to return to action by the MotoGP medical team at the Losail International Circuit.
Lorenzo says he’s suffering with back pain as a result of the practice crash, but also has worries following a second off sustained at Turn 2 during qualifying.
The Spaniard has been one of the most vocal supporters of moving the MotoGP race start time forward by one hour due to fears over track conditions caused by falling temperatures.
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The Repsol Honda rider has duly blamed his qualifying off on the cold conditions, with three other riders also falling at the same corner across Q1 and Q2, which has led to him calling his debut for the factory Honda squad “a survival race.”
“It is a survival race for everyone but especially for me because my inexperience of the bike and my condition. It is now not only the wrist but especially now this back problem. I also have the foot and some fingers,” Lorenzo said.
“I am feeling pain everywhere so with these conditions so cold for me it is going to be totally a survival race for everyone in general but especially for me.
“I have a some pain in my back, we are going to go to sleep now and see how I wake up tomorrow. If I feel not so well maybe I will need to do some more checks. If I feel better I will go to the track and see for the race tomorrow.
“It has not been a great day today, really unlucky with the first crash. It was a combination of factors that made me crash and it was a very nasty crash. This creates some physical problems.
“As for the qualifying crash it was because the conditions were too cold. So it is not a good day for us.”
Lorenzo has qualified in 15th place for his Repsol Honda debut in Qatar, one spot behind former Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.
The MotoGP race start time has not been moved forward by organisers following talks at the riders safety commission meeting on Friday after FP2.
