Repsol Honda factory MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo has said that there has been small steps forward, despite qualifying down in nineteenth for the Thai Grand Prix in Buriram.

The former World Champion has been a shadow of his former self in an injury plagued twelve months which all started in Thailand twelve months ago. A series of further injuries have made life tough for the Spaniard whilst having to adapt to the notoriously difficult RC213V.

Despite a best finish of fourteenth since returning from his latest injury, Lorenzo insists that things are moving forwards in the right direction.

“It’s difficult to understand the improvements from the outside,” said the 32-year-old.

“But I can say that, compared to the previous races, there have been small steps forward. In free practice, I focused on my pace for a few laps, trying to remain with the top ten.

“Physically, I was worse off in other circumstances. I think I’ll feel better on Sunday.”

Whilst things are improving for Lorenzo, he said that the morning rain left the track feeling slippery, but a small mistake eventually cost him from qualifying a row or two further ahead than he eventually did.

“The rain didn’t create the best conditions for the afternoon as the track was more slippery,” he said.

“We had to change the setting to compensate for this and we weren’t able to close the distance from pole.

“Anyway, in qualifying I went faster than the whole weekend, but we had an issue in the final braking after running on the kerb in the fast corner before. This lost me a few tenths and I think without this I could have been 16th which would have been my best grid position since Assen.”