Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi enjoyed a thrilling MotoGP rivalry and contested one of the most intense championships in recent memory in 2015.
It went right down to the wire in Valencia, where Yamaha’s two riders would be separated by just five points after the finish.
Having held the championship lead for so long, Rossi’s penalty for a kick on Marc Marquez in Malaysia would completely derail his charge.
Despite scything through the field to finish fourth, Lorenzo won the race and was crowned champion, where his Italian rival was almost guaranteed to win if he didn’t have to serve a penalty.
Rossi’s Marquez kick changed his reputation forever, with fans split on either side of the fence as to whether it was intentional.
It was a self-destructive move that went on to ruin his title charge. Despite his frustration and feeling that the young Spaniard had held him up, he should have found a way to remain calm.
Jorge Lorenzo predicted that Valentino Rossi would never win another MotoGP title after 2015
Despite opening the season by failing to score a podium in the first three races, as well as suffering a retirement, Lorenzo’s mid-season form would carry him to a title.
Winning four consecutive rounds at one stage, Rossi’s consistency wasn’t quite enough to see him home for the crown.
Speaking after the final race, Lorenzo predicted that Rossi had just missed his final opportunity to win another MotoGP title, which turned out to be correct.
“It’s obvious there are younger riders who are faster than him,” Lorenzo told Spanish media, according to TNT Sports.
“It must be frustrating not to have the speed that would have allowed him to win more races and arrive in Valencia with a greater advantage,” added the 28-year-old who won seven races to Rossi’s four.
“We don’t know what will happen in the future, but probably, just as will happen to me, this was his last chance to be world champion.”
READ MORE: Valentino Rossi explains why he finds watching MotoGP races ‘a disaster’, ‘I suffer’
How Marc Marquez left Valentino Rossi ‘really disappointed’ during the 2015 MotoGP title battle
Marquez’s 2015 season was his worst premier class performance of the decade. Between 2013 and 2019, it was the only season in which he didn’t win the title.
With a near 100-point gap, one would presume that he missed races with injury, but he didn’t. He just retired way too much.
His influence on the Yamaha battle was still felt, with his fellow countryman vying for a second trophy against Rossi.
Rossi was left ‘really disappointed’ with Marquez and felt that he had gone out of his way to hold him up and halt his charge.
Whether he did or not, it was up to him to mitigate that advantage and overtake him if he wanted to claim another title.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
