Big weekend for Lorenzo and Ducati

The 2017 Spanish MotoGP saw Jorge Lorenzo celebrate his first success at Ducati in the form of a debut podium on the Desmosedici.

The triple world champion went on to claim two further rostrums and climb to seventh in the standings, with the expectation that things would be much easier in his second season at the team.

But so far the results have been worse.

Lorenzo returns to Jerez having scored just six points in the opening three rounds (compared with twelve last year) and holds 16th in the world championship (compared with 13th).

Rubbing salt into the wounds is that team-mate Andrea Dovizioso has won a race and leads the world championship.

Might a further poor result this weekend - at one of Lorenzo's favourite tracks - push him into the arms of Suzuki for 2019?

“After the difficult race at Austin it’s now time to change the situation and I come to Spain determined to do well," said Lorenzo, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Friday.

"The Jerez circuit is one of my favourite tracks and I’ve got some good memories here, including my first podium for Ducati last year.

"I think it is the right circuit to begin to reverse the early season trend and it will be important to begin well on Friday and see what the track surface is like with the new asphalt.

"We’re working hard and we must continue to think positively. I don’t intend to give in.”

Lorenzo has been on the premier-class podium in eight of out ten races at Jerez, winning in 2010, in 2011 and in 2015.