Jorge Lorenzo tells current MotoGP grid: 'We were closer to Marc Marquez'
14:46, 24 Jun
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MotoGP legend Jorge Lorenzo has given the current grid a brutal reality check in their attempts to stop Marc Marquez.
Marquez is flying up the standings with back-to-back Grand Prix wins in Hungary and Czechia and has signed a new Ducati contract to capitalise on the momentum.
A 120-point deficit to championship leader Marco Bezzecchi has been reduced to just 40, and that’s despite Marquez coming off a painful double surgery that saw him miss a race.
Betting against another title for the nine-time champion would now be foolish, and for Lorenzo, he should already be close to several all-time records.
Lorenzo delivers verdict on Marquez comeback
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Speaking to GPOne, the five-time world champion said:
“When it comes to Marquez, the only thing that has stopped him from winning over the last five years has been two things: The Honda not being competitive enough and his arm problems.
“Without those injuries from 2020, and with a bike equal to his rivals', he would probably have won all those championships.
“And even now he'd be getting close to [Giacomo] Agostini's records. We've seen that when he's reasonably healthy - even though he'll never again be exactly like he was physically in 2019 - he's still better than the others. At his level, he's a step above everyone else.”
Lorenzo doesn't see anyone stopping Marquez if he can avoid injury
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Comparison with Rossi-era MotoGP grid
Lorenzo beat Marquez to the MotoGP title in 2015 during one of the sport’s most infamous seasons, where Marquez clashed with Valentino Rossi on and off track.
That was an anomaly, though, with the No.93 winning seven of his eight premier class titles from 2012 to 2019.
Lorenzo would retire in 2019, and Rossi three years later in 2021, and the Spaniard believes they put up a far stronger fight than the current crop of riders:
“When my generation was racing - Valentino Rossi and the others - we were all very close. Maybe Marc had a little extra at certain circuits. But against this current generation, even at 32 or 33 years old, he's still superior when he's in decent physical condition and has a competitive bike as he does now.
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“That's why what happened last weekend happened. Of course, we shouldn't be prisoners of the latest result. It won't always be like this. It depends on the circuit. Maybe Aprilia or Bezzecchi will be stronger somewhere, and Marquez will suffer more. We shouldn't judge everything based on the last Grand Prix.
“But overall, in terms of pure riding ability, Marquez is still superior. It's probably a combination of factors.”
Ducati developments and championship context
Explaining those factors, Lorenzo detailed how Ducati appear to have closed the gap on championship leaders Aprilia:
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“The championship has moved to circuits where Ducati struggles less. They may also have introduced some aerodynamic developments. We saw that new rear section that resembles something from Formula 1, and perhaps that gave Ducati an advantage.
“Aprilia may have benefited less from recent developments. And most importantly, Marquez is now in much better physical condition than he was before the operation. It's a combination of all those things. I don't think Ducati suddenly became half a second faster overnight.
“I've raced against him. He's very smart when it comes to dealing with the media. At 33 years old he has the experience to know exactly what to say and what benefits him - not only for his image but also, in a way, to keep his rivals guessing.”
Lorenzo knows Marquez better than most (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Marquez is going nowhere
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While Marquez's rivals may be hoping his age will play a factor in his ability to compete, the Catalan has since announced a new contract with Ducati until 2028.
Speaking about the deal, he said:
"I am incredibly happy with this new agreement with the Ducati Lenovo Team and to remain part of this family," says the Spaniard. "When I decided to join Ducati, I was convinced it was the most competitive project. They believed in me, and together we have built a relationship based on trust and hard work.
"With this extension, they have reaffirmed that trust. They respected that I needed time and gave me the calm I needed to make the right decision.
"In our first year together, we fought for the title and won it as well. That is an invaluable result and confirms that we made the right choice at the time. I still race because I love this sport and because I want to achieve even more ambitious goals. I am convinced this is the right place to do that. As long as I am here, I will give everything to paint the future Ducati red."
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