Rossi says it is ‘difficult to explain’ why Yamaha isn’t using Lorenzo

Valentino Rossi and 2020 MotoGP World Championship leader Fabio Quartararo have spoken out against their own Yamaha team to question why it isn’t utilising title-winning test rider Jorge Lorenzo more following a decision to sit out a recent test.

Yamaha recently opted not to accept an invite to test at Misano ahead of the San Marino MotoGP, a decision that has been queried by both Rossi and Quartararo given Honda, KTM, Ducati and Aprilia were present to sample the track’s newly laid asphalt.

Their confusion is compounded further by the fact Yamaha has the services of its three-time MotoGP World Champion Lorenzo on tap following his high-profile return to the manufacturer over the winter. 

To date, however, Lorenzo has completed just a half day of testing in Sepang back in February, totalling - what Quartararo says - was just 20 laps.

“I have the same question as you,” Quartararo responded when asked by a journalist why Lorenzo and Yamaha didn’t appear at Misano. “Honestly, I don’t know… it is true we don’t understand because in the past we know the capacity of Jorge on the Yamaha, so I don’t know why he is not riding. He did 20 laps in Sepang and that is it.

“When we see all the riders in June and we don’t see the Yamaha here, I won’t say it is a disadvantage but it is good to have some comments of our bike with the new asphalt.”

Rossi backed his stablemate up, adding that the team is now on the back foot because it sometimes does things ‘that are difficult to explain’.

“I have exactly the same question for Yamaha, because I was very happy when I understand Jorge is our test rider because he is one of the best riders in the history of the M1. I think he can help us a lot - we see what Pedrosa did with KTM in one year, I think he gives them a lot of good advice.

“Yamaha has to trust in the programme and [but] sincerely I don’t know. Sometimes things happen at Yamaha that is difficult to explain, so you have to speak with them.

“For sure now from tomorrow we will have to start from zero with the new asphalt and understand a lot of teams like KTM and Ducati already did in the last test. It will be harder I think.”