Some people in the MotoGP paddock are already calling Jorge Lorenzo and Maverick Viñales an odd couple, and others believe the partnership will not even last until the first race of the season in March. Lorenzo, however, is not bothered by these opinions and treats them the same way he did during his racing career, by simply ignoring them.

Six years after retiring from MotoGP and ten years after winning the last of his three world titles, Lorenzo has taken on a new role. His aim is to pass on all the experience and knowledge he gained at the top of the sport to Viñales, who is now riding for Tech3 KTM.

Viñales has shown many times that he has the speed to compete at the highest level, with 10 MotoGP victories and 35 podium finishes to his name. The problem has never been talent, but consistency, as strong weekends have often been followed by difficult ones. Lorenzo’s goal is to help him perform at his best more regularly and avoid the sharp drops in form that have damaged his championship hopes in the past.

Lorenzo has said that some people believe they will not even reach the opening races together, but he has never cared about outside criticism. The agreement between the two was finalised towards the end of last season in Lombok, although they had been in contact long before that, starting when Viñales was still racing for Aprilia.

Earlier this year, they met in Indonesia, where Viñales told Lorenzo he was fully committed to working with him and ready to follow his guidance completely. Lorenzo says his instinct told him straight away that Viñales was serious, and he has since found him to be calm, mature and mentally balanced.

During his own career, Lorenzo was known for his ability to block out distractions and perform at the very limit of his ability. He is now using the same focus in his work with Viñales, even though he accepts that in motorcycle racing, hard work does not always guarantee immediate results.

Their training plan is detailed and modern, combining work on the bike with physical preparation such as stretching, as well as mental training through meditation. Lorenzo’s father, Chicho, is also involved, and he is seen as a key influence behind Jorge’s success and one of the first true riding coaches in MotoGP.

Lorenzo believes that in other sports, such as tennis and football, the role of a coach has long been considered essential, while motorcycling took much longer to move in that direction. He has said that he wishes he had been able to learn directly from another world champion during his own career.

Recently, the group met in Valencia, where Viñales was seen practising figure-eight turns marked on the ground, a classic Lorenzo exercise designed to improve control and precision. A few days later, Lorenzo joined Viñales on a visit to KTM’s factory in Austria and was impressed by both the facilities and the warm reception.

Lorenzo believes that many factors decide whether a rider wins or not, including talent, the bike, physical condition and mental strength. He says Viñales already has the most important quality, talent, and has even described him as the most naturally gifted rider he has ever seen. At the same time, Lorenzo knows that the bike can both help and limit a rider once its maximum potential has been reached. For this reason, he wants Viñales to work on every possible area of performance.

Lorenzo has always aimed high and wants Viñales to do the same, although he believes success must come step by step. His immediate goal is for Viñales to become KTM’s leading rider this season, a difficult task given the presence of highly rated youngster Pedro Acosta.

Lorenzo has admitted that Acosta is very strong and has been working extremely hard for many years, but he believes that in terms of pure speed and natural ability, Viñales has the edge. Lorenzo will also be alongside Viñales during pre-season testing and at the opening races, confident that their work together can silence the doubters.