Jorge Lorenzo had a difficult adaptation to Ducati in MotoGP, with his first triumph only happening in the middle of the second season at Borgo Panigale in the 2018 Italian GP. At that time, the move to Repsol Honda was already arranged, although Ducati did not yet know.
In an interview with the podcast Tengo un Plan, the Majorcan recalled what happened before his first victory with Ducati: ‘On the Wednesday before the Grand Prix, [Claudio] Domenicali [Ducati’s CEO] inaugurated a Ducati store near the circuit, there were journalists there and he said: “Jorge Lorenzo is a great rider, but he hasn’t adapted to our bike and maybe it’s time to think about another rider.” I heard those statements on Thursday before the press conference and I told a journalist friend, Mela Chércoles: “Ask me about this.” So he asks and I tell him: “He’s the CEO, he’s the boss of Ducati, I can’t say anything about his opinion, I’ll just tell you one thing: I’m not a great rider, I’m a champion.”‘.
According to Lorenzo, this was the ultimate incentive he needed: ‘That was what I needed, along with the modifications to the bike, to bring out my best version and crush them all, and on Sunday I won the race‘.
After that, the three-time MotoGP world champion revealed that he had already arranged everything with Honda at the time: ‘What happened? I had already signed with Honda, Ducati didn’t know anything, no one knew anything. I arrived at the closed park, Izaskun Ruiz from DAZN asked [Davide] Tardozzi or [Paolo] Ciabatti: “What about Lorenzo?”. And they told her: “It’s not too late yet, let’s see what happens, let’s talk to his manager.” She asked me later: “And Ducati?”. And I said: “Too late.” Because I had already signed with Honda. That’s when Ducati found out, when I had already won‘.
