Lorenzo expects Pedrosa and Stoner challenge

With a substantial 47-point Championship lead going into the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya the Fiat Yamaha rider knows that a podium finish at his home race will maintain a healthy advantage

Jorge Lorenzo is in a relaxed mood as round seven of the 2010 MotoGP World Championship approaches this weekend, with the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya completing a gruelling series of three back-to-back races.

The busy schedule does not appear to have taken too much of a toll on the 23 year-old Fiat Yamaha rider however, and he leads the Championship standings by 47 points having won the last two races, which came in quick succession at Silverstone and Assen.

Now heading into his home race the Spaniard knows that he is in a position of great strength, and the pressure is on his rivals to recover ground. “We’re 47 points ahead of second place in the Championship, so this means we can finish second or third, but the others must win all the races from now until the end of the Championship. Of course we will try to win but if not we will try to finish the race,” explained Lorenzo to motogp.com.

“In theory Pedrosa is the favourite apart from us as he is second in the Championship, so together with Stoner he is the most dangerous. But every race is different so we will see what happens.”

Last year’s race produced what was widely regarded as the contest of the season, as Lorenzo and team-mate Valentino Rossi – who remains out through injury this time around – battled to the bitter end for victory. The Italian won the fight, but Lorenzo expects others to provide a stern challenge in the 31 year-old’s continued absence.

“Last year I had the chance to win but Valentino was cleverer than me in the last corner, he overtook me at the very end and I finished second,” he said. “This year without him there is one less rider, but the other riders and the other factories are very competitive so to win we will have to fight from the beginning until the last lap of the race.”

Lorenzo may be happy with a podium finish on his home circuit this season, but deep down will be eager to win in front of his own fans on a track he is yet to be victorious on in the premier class. Last year’s second place is his best MotoGP result at Montmeló to date, but he did take victory there on his way to the 250cc title in 2007.

Lorenzo expects Pedrosa and Stoner challenge