Rear tyre, electronics stunt Lorenzo's push

For the second time in two days, Jorge Lorenzo was left disappointed by a fairly lacklustre performance; crossing the finish line in sixth place at the Australian MotoGP, as the third best Yamaha.

While considerably faster than he was in a frankly poor qualifying performance on Saturday, when he was lapping over six seconds off pole position pace in the damp, Lorenzo could not find the rear grip necessary to ride as he wanted despite fully dry conditions.

The 30-year old explained on Sunday evening that at tracks which don't offer sufficient grip, like Phillip Island, the M1 and he in particular, struggle more than most.

"The main issues? Especially the rear tyre," began the Majorcan, who crossed the chequered flag 20 seconds back of race winner Cal Crutchlow.

"After what happens to [Loris] Baz and [Scott] Redding they bring harder rear tyre and from Brno they bring another rear tyre, that we had tried in Montmel?. It should have more drive. But instead of that we have even more problems.
"In a track like Motegi, which has a grippy tarmac we are there, fighting in the top three. We keep the same tyres but as soon as we have much less grippy conditions like this weekend our Yamaha struggles.

"I struggle more than other Yamaha riders because of my riding. I am so smooth so I need more rear grip than the others, who prefer more spinning and less rear grip.

"I am smooth and when there is grip on the rear I can ride like I want without being scared of crashing and make the difference, no?

"I make the difference when I pick up the bike. I am very good and have a good drive and be very, very quick. When it's like that it's the opposite. I warm up a little bit less the tyres and riders like me, like Pedrosa, we struggle more."

Crutchlow's victory means Yamaha has gone nine races without a win in the premier class, a surprising statistic considering the form of Lorenzo and team-mate Valentino Rossi at the beginning of the year.

Having won five of the first seven encounters of 2016, Yamaha has appeared to stand still in terms of development, while Honda has made considerable, consistent steps forward.

In the past eight races, Lorenzo has scored just 71 points, a paltry amount when compared alongside world champion Marquez's 128. The #99 asserted that this lack of form was also in part due to a lack of electronics advancements.

"It's true that probably our progression has been less than Honda and Suzuki for example, especially with the electronics. That is why we have not won from Montmel?. But when there is grip our bike is working. When there is no grip our bike is struggling a lot. And Lorenzo is struggling even more.

"The chassis improve a little bit. Some chassis that we try but I told the guys that, electronically, we didn't improve. We are more or less the same as the first races. I think Honda and Suzuki, they improve in that area. That's why you can see Crutchlow fighting for the win. You can see Aleix Espargaro fighting for podiums. It's not a coincidence."

Asked which part of the electronics package was causing issues, Lorenzo added, "All is the problem, as I told you, when there is no grip. I have locking when shifting down. I have lack of confidence in the entry because the engine braking is not perfect.

"And I have problems with spinning on the exit of the corners, I cannot drive. With good grip these problems, you cannot see so much the problems. When there is torque or very low grip the problems are three or four [times as big]."