Lorenzo looks to old rival Stoner for tips

JORGE Lorenzo and Casey Stoner go back a long way. In 2004 the then young rivals shared the podium at Phillip Island in the 125cc class.

Stoner went on to be the undisputed king of Phillip Island, winner of six MotoGP races there in a row and, of course, two world championships. Lorenzo, too, rose to the top, claiming three world titles in the premier class for Yamaha in 2010, ’12 and ’15.

Now the Spaniard, in his first year at Ducati, has turned to the retired Australian for advice about mastering the Italian bike and especially how to tame it around the Island for this weekend’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Stoner is a test rider for the Ducati factory team, which also has Andrea Dovizioso challenging Marc Marquez for the 2017 crown.

Lorenzo said Stoner was one of the greats of the sport, and he hoped to use his advice to propel him to the front of the field. “You can always learn from someone like Casey,’’ Lorenzo said. “This is the track [where] Casey rode the best rides of his career.

“I never tire to ask him questions. Some technical stuff or riding. About how he would consider some kind of corner, how to brake into the corner, to ride in mixed conditions.’’

Lorenzo, 30, is seventh in the MotoGP race and seeking to repeat his 2013 race win but the Island’s notorious weather could play a role.

The forecast for Sunday is cloudy and 17C but the wind from Bass Strait could also affect riders and bikes.

Lorenzo, now a Tissot athlete and in Melbourne relaxing before heading to the Island, has been a competitive racer for half of his life.

He made his championship debut on his 15th birthday in his home grand prix in the 125cc class, after famously missing practice the day before because he was still 14.

Lorenzo played down the rivalry with Italian great Valentino Rossi while teammates at Yamaha last year.

“It’s always very difficult to have a great relationship with someone you compete with on the track and you’re trying to beat and he’s trying to beat you,” he said.

“It’s even more difficult when you have two champions who are very proud and we are teammates and we have the same bike.’’

Australian Broc Parkes has been confirmed as a replacement for the ill Jonas Folger on the Tech3 Yamaha.

Fox Sports will show every practice, qualifying session and race from the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix live and ad-break free from lights out to the checkered flag.