Jorge Lorenzo says he is not ruling out taking a debut MotoGP win for Honda at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix despite admitting he will only be “85 percent” fit.
Lorenzo missed the first pre-season test of the year at Sepang after suffering another broken right wrist in a training accident in January, but is expected to return to action at the Qatar test next weekend.
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports Italy, Lorenzo says he will not be at full fitness come the Qatar race, but has not ruled out the possibility of taking to the top step of the podium.
“As soon as possible, I hope,” he said when asked when he will take his maiden Honda win. “Nothing is impossible, maybe it will happen in Qatar even if it''s difficult.”
He added: “I think in a week I'll be even better than now, I'll be ready to ride the Honda.
“In returning to 100 percent [fitness], we miss a lot of [track] time. This kind of injury always leaves you with problems.
“I think I will be 80 percent for the test, and then 85 percent for the race.”
2019 Honda line-up stronger than stats suggest
Lorenzo and Marc Marquez will form Honda's first all-champion line-up since 1989, with the pair sharing eight premier class titles and 91 MotoGP victories.
Admitting in terms of numbers HRC's 2019 'dream team' is strong, Lorenzo believes “in terms of speed and talent” it is “even stronger” than the statistics suggest.
“Looking at the numbers, it is pretty clear we are one of the strongest teams in the history of MotoGP,” he said.
“But sometimes you can win titles because maybe the competition is not as high as it is today.
“We are certainly one of the best pairings in terms of numbers, but surely as speed and talent [goes] we are even stronger than what the numbers show.”
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