Lorenzo: from fear to flawless

MotoGP championship leader Jorge Lorenzo has explained how he made the transformation from a woeful wet weather rider to deliver a perfect rain-riding display at Le Mans on Sunday. Lorenzo, who made his grand prix debut in 2002, didn't stand on the podium of any wet weather race - grand prix or otherwise - until a third place at the inaugural 2008 Indianapolis Grand Prix. The 2010 MotoGP champion's first wet victory then finally came at Jerez last year, although Sunday's victory was the first in soaking conditions. Lorenzo won the French Grand Prix by almost ten seconds. “I used to really hate racing in the rain,” he confessed. “I was so scared of the rain when I was younger, because almost 90% of the time I would crash. “Anyway after five or six years I said 'ok, I have to improve my riding in the wet'. So I went to some go-kart tracks with little bikes, watered the track and keep training and training and training until wet conditions were more normal for me. “I got it. I was faster. More consistent. Less risky. Now it's been a few years since I 've done that training, but I've kept the skills and I'm quite competitive in the rain.” The Yamaha star's second victory from four starts has put him back on top of the standings, by eight points over reigning double champion Casey Stoner (Honda). “It's nice to be eight points ahead of Casey because in this kind of race you could easily be 25-26 points behind him after a crash,” said Lorenzo. “It's important to be there. “Now we are waiting for improvements with the bike that will maybe come very soon, especially for the dry races. “We are optimistic and very happy with this victory.”