Jorge Lorenzo retains title hopes, to leave Yamaha

MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo insists his focus is still on retaining his title despite deciding to leave Yamaha at the end of the season for new adventures with Ducati.

Lorenzo trails Spanish compatriot Marc Marquez by 21 points after the first three races of the season ahead of their return to action on home soil at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez this weekend.

Valentino Rossi’s crash at the Austin Grand Prix two weeks ago has left Lorenzo’s Yamaha teammate already 33 points adrift of Marquez. However, the tricky relationship between Lorenzo and the Italian — who he pipped to the title in controversial circumstances in the final race of last season as Rossi claimed Marquez had conspired to aid his countryman — has led to Lorenzo’s surprising decision to split with Yamaha after seven seasons with the Japanese manufacturer.

“It is the most important decision of my career,” said Lorenzo on Thursday. “I felt I needed a change, a new challenge in my career, set new goals for me to try to achieve and keep my level of ambition at the maximum.

“What will happen in the future is unpredictable but from here on I just want to enjoy these 15 races that I have left with Yamaha to try to ratify the world championship. This is right now my only target.”

According to widespread reports in the Spanish press Lorenzo will be paid 25 million euros ($28 million) for his two-year term at Ducati.