Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo will be seeking to widen the points gap over his rivals at this week’s MotoGP US Grand Prix at the Laguna Seca Raceway course.
The Spaniard posted a dominant victory in Mugello in his last outing has a 19-point lead in the championship standings over Dani Pedrosa.
“We are having a very strong season so far, always finishing in either first or second place,” Lorenzo said.
“I have always had great races here in Laguna in MotoGP and always finish on the podium. Hopefully we can continue to do this here to extend the lead a little more.”
Lorenzo has earned the pole position at the last three Laguna Seca races which is known for its infamous and challenging “Corkscrew” corner.
“I love the circuit, the corkscrew corner is amazing and the American fans always make an incredible atmosphere for us.”
Spanish compatriot Pedrosa is second in the points race and he will have a new bike, new engine and chassis for Sunday’s race.
Pedrosa’s teammate Casey Stoner will have a new engine but keep his old chassis.
“Laguna is very small, bumpy and technical,” said Pedrosa who won in California in 2009.
Australian Stoner is hoping to defend the title he won last year when he roared past Lorenzo on the 27th lap for the US Grand Prix win.
American Ben Spies, a teammate of Lorenzo, is hoping the California crowd will help change his luck and improve his chances of winning on home soil.
“It’s always special racing in front of your home crowd. It’s been a pretty rough season so far but we’ll see if we can turn it round here, put on a good show for all my fans and change it up for the second half of the year,” said Spies, who has failed to finish in the top five in six of nine races this season.
Spain’s Hector Barbera will not be competing this weekend after breaking his leg in a training crash last weekend.
Following the Laguna Seca race, the riders will take a break before heading to Indianapolis for an August 19 race.