In the days prior to Grand Prix ‘zero’, the official IRTA test at a rainy Jerez circuit last week, new Fiat Yamaha MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo caused a stir at Yamaha Spain with his first visit to the facility and received a tour of the location as well as a rapturous reception by staff.

The 20 year old from Majorca, who now splits his time between his home town of Palma de Majorca and a residence in Barcelona, arrived at the factory (situated close to the Catalan capital) in a new all-black Fiat 500 and was accompanied by team manager Daniele Romagnoli , MotoGP project director Masahiko Nakajima, and president of Yamaha Spain Jorge Lasheras.

The former double 250cc world champion passed along the production lines signing autographs and mingling with the workers who gladly received the youngster, who is the first Spaniard to steer a factory Yamaha machine in MotoGP since Carlos Checa in 2004.

Lorenzo had a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the painting, welding and assembly areas at the unit that has been providing motorcycles and scooters to the European market for over 25 years.