Speaking openly on his transition to Repsol Honda for the first time, Jorge Lorenzo believes a fourth MotoGP crown in 2019 is a far-fetched idea.

The Spaniard, who went without a win for the first 18 months during his two years at Ducati, acknowledges his closest rivals have spent a number of years aboard their current machines, which will make challenging for the the title all the more difficult with just two tests under his belt on the RC213V.

“I do not know if I will be ready to fight for the world title from the first season at Honda,” Lorenzo explained. “For sure, I am going to try to be the best prepared for the first race in Qatar but it is not that simple, and even more now we have just three or four tests before the beginning of the season.

“You have to fight against Marc Márquez, who is a very good rider and it will be the sixth or seventh year on the same bike. It is very complicated, and not only him, I have to fight with Andrea Dovizioso, who is with his seventh year in Ducati, and Valentino Rossi, who has more than ten years with Yamaha.

“So, there are a lot of riders with a lot of experience with their own bikes that will be very difficult to beat. I do not know if I will be ready.”

The three-time MotoGP world champion commented on the harmonious feeling within the squad since appearing with them at Valencia last year, adding adjustments to his riding style and the bike will be necessary after a positive beginning on the title-winning contender.

“It was all great at the Valencia test, the first time I jumped onto the Honda, and the second time in Jerez, everything was unbelievable in the team,” he continued. “The team is so big, so professional, everything is perfect and they took care of all the details. They paid me a lot of attention, they looked after me a lot, they brought me all that I ask for and that is very important.

“I feel loved by them and for the moment everything is like that. The feeling on the bike is fantastic right now. I think, obviously, I still need to improve my riding style on the bike, I still need to make the bike more in my style but the beginning has been great.”

Repsol Honda will launch its 2019 colours at the team presentation scheduled for 23 January at Madrid in Spain, while the first test of the year is pencilled in for 6 February at Sepang in Malaysia.