Ninjette Newsbot
March 31st, 2015, 02:10 AM
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DOUBLE MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo’s sudden lack of pace towards the end of the race in Qatar on Sunday was due to helmet padding coming loose and blocking the Spaniard's vision.
The 27-year-old finished fourth in the first MotoGP race of 2015. The Spaniard was competing at the front for most of the race but dropped from the leading pack in the latter stages.
Lorenzo said: 'It was a difficult race. After the first lap, I found myself in second place and I followed Dovizioso. I was faster and I passed him where I could in the fast corners.
'On the speed and in braking the Ducati was much stronger than our bike, but we could recover on corner speed while the acceleration was similar.
'To be honest, I thought that I could win the race, though it surely wasn’t going to be easy, because Valentino had a very strong pace at the end of the race.
'I was feeling better and better, but suddenly there was something wrong when in the top part of the helmet the foam came loose and came down so I lost half of my vision.
'I couldn’t see the corners very well and couldn’t concentrate or ride like before and I was losing half a second or more per lap. In a race where, at minimum I could fight for the win, I finished fourth.'
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Director Massimo Meregalli said he believed the team ‘could have had both riders on the podium’ if it wasn’t for Lorenzo’s helmet issue.
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DOUBLE MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo’s sudden lack of pace towards the end of the race in Qatar on Sunday was due to helmet padding coming loose and blocking the Spaniard's vision.
The 27-year-old finished fourth in the first MotoGP race of 2015. The Spaniard was competing at the front for most of the race but dropped from the leading pack in the latter stages.
Lorenzo said: 'It was a difficult race. After the first lap, I found myself in second place and I followed Dovizioso. I was faster and I passed him where I could in the fast corners.
'On the speed and in braking the Ducati was much stronger than our bike, but we could recover on corner speed while the acceleration was similar.
'To be honest, I thought that I could win the race, though it surely wasn’t going to be easy, because Valentino had a very strong pace at the end of the race.
'I was feeling better and better, but suddenly there was something wrong when in the top part of the helmet the foam came loose and came down so I lost half of my vision.
'I couldn’t see the corners very well and couldn’t concentrate or ride like before and I was losing half a second or more per lap. In a race where, at minimum I could fight for the win, I finished fourth.'
Movistar Yamaha MotoGP Director Massimo Meregalli said he believed the team ‘could have had both riders on the podium’ if it wasn’t for Lorenzo’s helmet issue.
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Rossi: 'The only negative thing was the speed of Marc and Dani' (http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rossi-the-only-negative-thing-was-the-speed-of-marc-and-dani/26240.html)
Rossi and Lorenzo make 'strong start' at Sepang (http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rossi-and-lorenzo-make-strong-start-at-sepang/26225.html)
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Click here for full story... (http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/lorenzos-helmet-blamed-for-sudden-lack-of-pace/26474.html)