virgivaughn: Lorenzo: We still need to win races

Jorge Lorenzo will take his increased MotoGP championship lead into consideration over the remaining rounds, but believes he still needs to win more races to wrap up the crown.

Lorenzo's title advantage almost trebled, from 13 to 38 points, when his sixth victory of the year at Misano on Sunday was combined with a DNF for Honda's Dani Pedrosa.

Five rounds remain, and a potential 125 points.

“Of course this [points] advantage is an extra thing to consider,” said the Yamaha star, when asked if he would ride more strategically in future.

“But anyway if you finish third or fourth for so many races, and he is winning, then you will lose your difference very quickly.

“Or if you make a mistake, or something happens like with Dani today and with me in Holland, then you will not win the championship.

“So we must try to be focussed, fast and win some of the remaining races.

“And, as has been my mentality all season, if it is not possible to win then finish second or whatever is the best you can do on the day,” concluded the 2010 world champion.

Aside from the non-score at Assen, when he was taken out at the first turn, Lorenzo has finished no lower than second in the races this year.

Pedrosa's worst result, other than Misano, is a fourth place in France.

Round 14 of 18 will be held at Aragon, Spain on September 28-30.

Pedrosa's injured team-mate Casey Stoner, the reigning champion and four time 2012 race winner, is expected to return for the final three or four events.

It is not yet known if Honda will ask the retiring Stoner to support Pedrosa's challenge.