Jorge Lorenzo had a challenging adaptation to Ducati in MotoGP, with his first victory occurring only halfway through the second season in Borgo Panigale at the Italian GP in 2018. At that time, the move to Repsol Honda was already settled, although Ducati was still unaware.
In an interview with the Tengo un Plan podcast, the Mallorcan recalled what happened before his first win with Ducati: ‘On the Wednesday before the Grand Prix, [Claudio] Domenicali [CEO of Ducati] was inaugurating a Ducati store near the circuit; there were journalists there, and he said: «Jorge Lorenzo is a great rider, but he hasn’t adapted to our bike, and maybe it’s time to think about another rider». I heard those statements on Thursday before the press conference and told a journalist friend, Mela Chércoles: «Ask me about this». So, he asked, and I told him: «It’s the CEO, it’s the head of Ducati; I can’t say anything about his opinion. I’ll only tell you one thing: I’m not a great rider; I’m a champion».’
According to Lorenzo, this was the ultimate motivation he needed: ‘That was what I needed, along with the modifications to the bike, to bring out my best version and crush them all, and on Sunday, I won the race’.
After this, the three-time MotoGP world champion revealed that he had already sorted everything out with Honda at the time: ‘What happened? I had already signed with Honda; Ducati didn’t know anything, no one knew anything. I arrived in the closed park, Izaskun Ruiz from DAZN asked [Davide] Tardozzi or [Paolo] Ciabatti: «What about Lorenzo?» And they told her: «It’s not too late yet; let’s see what happens, let’s talk to his manager». She asked me later: «And Ducati?» And I said: «Too late». Because I had already signed with Honda. That’s when Ducati found out, after I had already won’.