Jorge Lorenzo names ‘cocky’ four-time world champion as the MotoGP rider who inspired him the most

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Jorge Lorenzo’s riding style was one of the most distinctive and admired in MotoGP history, and the Spaniard has named which rider is most responsible for it.

Jorge Lorenzo‘s achievements in the premier class of motorcycle Grand Prix racing remain among the most celebrated in the sport’s history, including five world titles and 68 wins across the three Grand Prix categories. He currently sits in sixth place on the all-time winners list.

Lorenzo’s career was defined by some of the most exciting title battles in recent memory, including a relationship of ‘total tension’ with Valentino Rossi.

It was a relationship filled with mutual respect as well as tension, as to be expected in such a high-adrenaline and high-stakes sport. Lorenzo previously alluded to being ‘proud’ after losing to Rossi following a fierce battle at the 2009 German Grand Prix.

This wasn’t the case for all of his MotoGP rivals, however, as Lorenzo was once ‘furious’ with Marc Marquez after an incident at the 2018 Aragon Grand Prix left the Spaniard with a ‘destroyed foot’.

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Jorge Lorenzo was ‘drawn’ to Max Biaggi’s riding style in the first race he watched

As a guest on a recent episode of Mig Babol, Lorenzo was asked who his motorcycle Grand Prix idols were when he was growing up. Lorenzo stated that he was naturally drawn to ‘the cocky ones, especially Max Biaggi’.

The five-time world champion went on to explain his reasoning for Biaggi being his favourite, saying, “I still remember the first time I watched the world championship on TV.

“It was the Indonesian Grand Prix of 1995. He was racing that black bike with the number 1, fighting against Harada, who rode the Marlboro Yamaha. Max won that race.

“From that moment, I started following him more and more. I followed 250cc more than 500cc. I was drawn to his riding style, his boldness, his style – how he would pop wheelies.”

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Max Biaggi was the biggest influence on Jorge Lorenzo’s riding style

Lorenzo elaborated further on what it was about Biaggi that mesmerised him, noting his visual nature as what drew him to the Italian in the first place. “His helmet designs, his number, his name on the fairing. I liked all that kind of stuff,” Biaggi explained.

” I’ve always been very visual, and he was the one who most embodied that visual identity. I liked it. So when I was little, riding in Mallorca at the rental kart track my dad owned, I always tried to imitate him.”

“Doing wheelies, riding very clean, entering corners wide to carry more speed. He really inspired my riding style.”

Lorenzo went on to surpass his idol’s career in MotoGP, winning three world titles in the premier class, a feat that eluded Biaggi throughout his eight-year career in the top flight.