Jorge Lorenzo has admitted that he feels relieved to have "lost only three points" in the MotoGP title race.
The rider's Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi currently leads the way with a 13-point advantage.
Lorenzo, who resides second in the standings, only just clinched fourth place in the German MotoGP, which was won by reigning world champion Marc Marquez.
"The only positive things are that I made a good start and that I lost only three points to Valentino despite a bad race," motorsport.com quotes Lorenzo as saying.
"After just a few laps I started to lose rear grip. I suffered a lot with traction because there was so much spinning, and under braking the rear didn't support the front, so I was having to brake earlier and earlier."
Marquez currently sits fourth in the standings, 65 points adrift of Rossi, with nine races left to go.
