Mugello MotoGP winner Jorge Lorenzo is using a 2010/2011 hybrid YZR-M1 MotoGP bike in order to close the gap on championship leader Casey Stoner and says he is more happy this weekend because the performance gap is much narrower.
The reigning world champion, who said he would like to test at more tracks in the winter but is aware of the costs involved, won't reveal which parts are old and which new but reckons that changes have enabled him to brake later and harder, and carry more corner speed.
"At the moment we have a lot of parts that are 2010 but neither bike is complete. One bike has one more piece more from 2011 than the other one but I cannot say which," said the Spaniard.
"I am much happier than before, I can brake later with more confidence to enter the corners and the bike on the straight is better than the fist five races of the championship. Now I feel much more safe on the bike and my performance is higher.
"I think the Honda is the best bike for the moment. Before we were quite disadvantaged but now we are much closer. It is difficult to fight with a rider like Casey who have a very good bike but we are much closer than we were before so this gives me more motivation to try."
