Jorge Lorenzo feels that Marc Marquez is not as explosive as he was at the start of his MotoGP career, yet has developed into the smartest competitor in the series.
The nine-time world champion faced another challenge to his durability at the opening of the 2026 season, with a persistent shoulder injury hurting his consistency and leaving him well behind Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin.
However, a further operation after Le Mans turned his year around, and three wins in the last four grands prix revived his title bid.
Ex-Yamaha rider Lorenzo suggests Marquez may have lost some of the raw pace and aggression that defined his Honda dominance, but says the Ducati rider now makes up for it with greater mental strength.
“Marc’s historic comeback is incredible. From a deficit of over 100 points, he’s closed the gap to just 18,” Lorenzo told DAZN. “It’s a championship where you have to ride extremely fast, but you especially have to survive.
“What strikes me is how much he’s grown in intelligence and maturity. He falls much less. At Assen, which was probably the worst track for him, for the bike, and for his physical condition, he held on like a lion. At certain points in the race, he put enough pressure on Bezzecchi to force him into a mistake.
“He’s no longer as explosive and dominant as he was 10 or 12 years ago, but he’s the most well-rounded and intelligent rider on the grid today.”
Jorge Lorenzo
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Marquez began the 2026 season still healing from the shoulder fracture he picked up at the Indonesian Grand Prix the previous October. The unresolved injury reduced his speed through left-hand corners, once a key advantage.
After the problem did not ease naturally by Jerez in April, Marquez underwent another surgery and instantly improved when he came back at Mugello.
The 33-year-old still requires time to reach full fitness, though the summer break should help him recover faster.
Lorenzo expects Marquez’s results to differ by venue in the second half of the year but thinks he will stay unbeatable on anti-clockwise layouts.
“We have to remember that most circuits consist mainly of right-hand turns. With this arm issue, the difference becomes more pronounced,” said the five-time world champion, who rode alongside Marquez at Honda in 2019.
“Marc struggles more than before on right-hand tracks, and this allows the others to close the gap to his level.
“When racing on circuits with many left-hand turns, however, such as the Sachsenring, Phillip Island or Aragon, he fares much better. Physically, he can sustain the pace longer and doesn’t have to pace himself as much. That’s where he can make the difference thanks to his greatest strength, his spectacular corner entry on left-hand turns.”
