Fresh from equalling Mick Doohan’s mark of 54 MotoGP wins, Jorge Lorenzo still believes the Australian racing legend sits in a league of his own.
The Spaniard is excited to be defending his Phillip Island title at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend and has revealed he shares a unique relationship away from the track with Doohan, who he counts as a mentor.
Countryman Marc Marquez has already secured this year’s world championship, but Lorenzo is eager to bump his status up from fourth to second over the three remaining events.
Lorenzo last week entered his name in the record books alongside Doohan by taking out the Grand Prix in Japan, with the 27-year-old equal fifth on the all-time list for most titles.
However, Lorenzo denies he deserves to be spoken about in the same terms as five-time world champion Doohan, because some of the humble star’s 54 wins have come at 125cc and 250cc level – whereas the Australian did it all in the 500 class.
Italian great Giacomo Agostini holds the record with 122 world championship wins.
Lorenzo has great respect for Doohan who he speaks to regularly, and has memorabilia of the 49-year-old hanging up all over his house.
“We swap leathers and helmets because I’m making a collection of Moto GP legends,” Lorenzo told AAP.
“I wanted to have one of his helmets and leathers.
“He’s a nice guy.
“Mick has been one of my idols. I equalled his number of victories but he’s won every one in 500cc so, if I could choose, I’d prefer Mick’s number than mine.
“But to equal his numbers in the world championship in general is a nice achievement.
“He doesn’t give me any advice so much, just speaks to me about things in general.”
Lorenzo is a two-time world championship winner and is in the awkward position of being in form, but unable to add a third crown to his trophy cabinet.
Marquez sewed up the championship by coming second to Lorenzo in Japan, with Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa tied second on the rankings heading into Phillip Island.
Lorenzo knows he can push towards a podium finish by defending his 2013 triumph in Victoria but is wary of one of the most unique tracks in racing.
“Phillip Island is a wonderful track but also very special,” he said.
“It’s very different from a normal track because it’s very tight, very fast, very cold, especially in the mornings.
“There’s some special points you must be very conscious of.
“I don’t especially (feel pressure from winning last year). I don’t think too much about the past. I’m proud of the past but every year is a new challenge.
“We are able to fight for second place and this should be our goal.”
