MotoGP: Lorenzo to Miss Pre-Season Testing

The runner-up in the 2009 MotoGP Championship is not having a good start to this year’s season.

Due to a hand injury, Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo’s doctors told him he couldn’t participate in the second series of pre-season Moto GP testing in Sepang next week, but Lorenzo also learned he may miss the final pre-season testing in Qatar March 18-19.

“At the moment there are serious doubts as to whether Jorge will be fully recovered for the Qatar test,” Lorenzo’s press manager Hector Martin told the press. “We must wait and see how his injury and rehabilitation go after he has his stitches removed, which will be next Friday or Monday.”

Last week, motorcycle racer Lorenzo fractured the base of his first finger and suffered a displaced thumb while motorcross training near Barcelona.

During the first series of pre-season testing, the Spaniard posted the fifth fastest time on the first day, and the third fastest time on the second day, just O.36 seconds slower than Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner and 0.755 seconds slower than his teammate, defending MotoGP Champion Valentino Rossi.