Jakarta – Throughout his racing career, Jorge Lorenzo had several rivals, including Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner, Marc Marquez, and Valentino Rossi. These names were specifically discussed by the five-time world champion, three of which were in MotoGP, in a conversation with Gazzetta.
Jorge Lorenzo on Dani Pedrosa
Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, both from Spain, once had a fierce rivalry, not just in MotoGP.
“Pedrosa was very tough in 125cc and 250cc because he had incredible technique, despite his small stature,” Lorenzo said of Pedrosa.
“The main thing was that he could maximize his body weight to push the bike to the limit. That’s very difficult, and he was the first to demonstrate that.”
“We all copied everything he did with his technique,” Lorenzo added.
Jorge Lorenzo on Casey Stoner
In the MotoGP class, Casey Stoner was a two-time world champion, with his second title coming in 2011, with Lorenzo as the runner-up.
“Stoner had a natural talent,” Lorenzo said.
“For example, on a wet track with standing water, he could take the bike out of the garage and set a record lap time, while others were 2-3 seconds slower. His ability to improvise and push the bike to the limit was extraordinary.”
“A truly remarkable natural talent! That’s not something everyone has,” he noted.
Jorge Lorenzo on Marc Marquez
Jorge Lorenzo retired from MotoGP after the 2019 season. In his final season, Lorenzo raced for Repsol Honda, with Marc Marquez as his teammate. Marquez won the world championship that year.
“Marquez is like a predator (with his mentality),” said Lorenzo.
“No rider likes to crash, but he’s not afraid to crash at all. And like a predator, he always wants to win, even when he’s not in top form.”
“On circuits that aren’t even suited to his bike, he still has the ambition. He always wants to beat you. He’s not afraid to fall. In this way, he’s a unique figure,” he explained.
Jorge Lorenzo on Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo’s career in MotoGP was inseparable from the discussions about his intense rivalry with Valentino Rossi, even when they were teammates at Yamaha.
“Valentino? He’s very complete,” Lorenzo said.
“As an individual, (Rossi) is naturally very intelligent and extremely charismatic. He’s a rider who can always improvise a lot with the bike.”
“He shines during races. He’s very complete. He may not have extraordinary qualities, but he’s a very complete rider,” he concluded.
