Former MotoGP star Jorge Lorenzo thinks Marc Marquez continues to be ‘weighed down’ by his previous arm harm in 2024, however stays assured that he can add a seventh premier class title to his tally.
Now a TV pundit for Spanish broadcaster DAZN, three-time MotoGP champion Lorenzo says he has observed how Marquez continues to be impacted by the arm he broke in a horrific crash on the Spanish Grand Prix 4 years in the past.
Marquez was collaborating within the delayed 2020 season-opener when he suffered a large highside at Flip 3 and landed onerous on the bottom. The harm he sustained within the fall led to a protracted harm layoff for the then-Honda rider, taking a complete of 4 operations between 2020 and ‘22 earlier than he may regain full health and never face any limitations on a MotoGP bike.
Whereas that career-altering crash has now change into a subject of the previous as Marquez has regained type, his former team-mate Lorenzo believes he’s nonetheless not capable of journey at his 100 per cent because of the lingering results of the crash.
“In some braking [zones] you’ll be able to see that the harm is weighing him down,” Lorenzo informed DAZN. “All this added collectively implies that a champion like Marc Marquez, with supposedly the very best bike – even when it isn’t the brand new one – continues to be not profitable [races].”
Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez in 2022
A transfer to the Gresini staff on a year-old Ducati has allowed Marquez to combat close to the sharp finish of the pack once more in 2024. Following final weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, he sits a strong fourth within the championship on 192 factors, having completed on the rostrum 4 instances thus far this 12 months.
A victory, nonetheless, has remained elusive, with the 2024 season thus far having been dominated by Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin on the latest-spec Ducati GP24.
Lorenzo is not sure if Marquez could be main the title combat at this stage of the 12 months, had he been on the identical gear as manufacturing facility Ducati rider Bagnaia or Pramac ace Martin.
“Perhaps he would have gained with the 2024 bike. Is it attainable that he could be main the world championship? I do not know,” he mentioned.
“He was thus far forward of his rivals on a technical degree in 2019, earlier than that harm – he was far superior to many. Not solely by way of titles, but in addition on a technical and bodily degree.
“[After his Ducati move], individuals considered the rule of three: finest rider, with the very best bike, they’ll sweep [the year].
“Even I mentioned that he was going to win the championship. That he wasn’t going to comb [the season], however that he was going to win the championship.
“And thus far he nonetheless [hasn’t achieved] any victories. He is fought for victories, he is received podiums, however he hasn’t gained, and he is Marc Marquez.”
Marquez has earned a transfer to the manufacturing facility Ducati squad in 2025 on the again of his spectacular adaptation to the GP23, a transfer that may pit him straight towards two-time champion Bagnaia.
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Workforce.
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Whereas the Italian has steadily established himself as the person to beat in MotoGP, Lorenzo thinks Marquez can win one other championship and equal his foe Valentino Rossi within the checklist of riders with essentially the most premier class titles.
“That harm in Jerez 2020 is weighing him down bodily,” he mentioned. “[But] we now have seen nice champions, like Mick Doohan, win 4 world championships with virtually one and a half legs.
“I do not assume we have seen Marc Marquez’s final title but, probably, however it’s not going to be straightforward for him to win a championship once more, as a result of he has two younger riders [in front of him].
“Now Jorge Martin goes to Aprilia, however he has Pecco Bagnaia, who’s youthful than him, very quick and virtually good.”
