Jorge Lorenzo admits a “misunderstanding” between himself and his Ducati MotoGP team regarding tyre choice cost him a better chance at fight for Austrian Grand Prix pole position.
Lorenzo qualified his Desmosedici third on the grid, missing pole by just over a tenth in a tight front row battle between himself, teammate Andrea Dovizioso and eventual pole man Marc Marquez.
The Spaniard was seen visibly frustrated with his team and pointing to the rear of his bike during a pit stop late in qualifying, and claims this was a “misunderstanding” in the team not fitting his 'preferred' fresh soft rear tyre for a final pole charge.
“We all knew that that the three of us would be close to fight for the pole position, and was like that,” said Lorenzo.
“We are just one tenth covering us. Probably at the end we have enough time to put a new soft tyre that I always prefer to go a little bit faster, but there was a little bit of a misunderstanding in the garage and we didn't put it.
“So this probably cost us a little bit the chance to fight for pole. Anyway, the important thing is to be in the first row, to get a good start tomorrow, to have a a good pace.
“We maybe didn't have as much time as we wanted [in practice], but plenty of time to understand a little bit the tyres, the setting and the pace. So I think we are ready to fight to the end like in Brno.”
Lorenzo has struggled for pace through the third sector of the Red Bull Ring all weekend, and concedes he is still “missing something”, but believes this is more related to his own riding style rather than the bike.
“Well, in FP4 I improved a little bit in that sector, but unfortunately there I'm still missing something.
“So I don't think it's about setting or the bike, I think it's more about my riding style. So I'm going to study a little bit with the video and see if if I can do something for tomorrow.
“Anyway, in the warm-up I think we're gonna try something that can improve a little bit the braking, so hopefully we can find some more tenths.”
The Spaniard also confirmed he will continue to use the carbon-reinforced chassis Dovizioso has been using since the Dutch TT, and which Lorenzo raced at Brno last week.
“Now I'm using the one from Dovi in Assen, and he's using the one from me in Brno.
“The difference is very small, and also the feeling. So not so much difference, but we prefer to concentrate on the same chassis for both bikes, and let's see in the next ones.”
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