Jorge Lorenzo names his top five current MotoGP riders excluding Marc Marquez

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Marc Marquez has arguably underlined his status as MotoGP’s top rider by romping to the 2025 title. He will likely seal the championship at the next race in Japan.

There’s no doubt that Ducati are the strongest manufacturer, even if rivals have closed in. They have won 29 out of 32 races this year, including Sprints.

Thus, Marquez has an advantage over the field, but it’s hard to argue he isn’t the most talented rider given that he’s scored 512 points and his nearest challenger (brother Alex) is on 330. His fellow GP25 riders – Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio di Giannantonio – have only scored 416 combined.

Still, there are stars at other manufacturers who would back themselves to challenge Marquez on equal machinery. Marco Bezzecchi is mounting a push for second place in the standings, aided by his Misano Sprint win.

Aprilia teammate and 2024 world champion Jorge Martin may be back to his best next year, while Fabio Quartararo thinks he could match Marquez in dry conditions.

KTM’s Pedro Acosta says it would be ‘difficult’ to beat Marquez on a Ducati, but he thinks it’s possible. Acosta has been labelled the second coming of the Ant of Cervera by some observers.

Jorge Lorenzo says Pedro Acosta is the most talented MotoGP rider after Marc Marquez

During a video on the Duralavita YouTube channel, Jorge Lorenzo and Ruben Xaus debated the top five riders after Marquez, whom they regard as the unanimous number one.

He believes Acosta is the closest match in terms of talent, even though the second-year rider has yet to win a race. He’s fifth in the championship on the third-best bike, having scored four podiums in total this year.

Lorenzo ranks 2021 world champion Quartararo third, just ahead of Martin. Bagnaia remains in his top five despite his miserable season, and Bezzecchi has surged into sixth amid what’s arguably a career-best run of form.

Three-time premier-class champion Lorenzo was at pains to stress, though, that there’s almost nothing to separate this quintet.

“After Marquez, it’s difficult to classify them,” he said. “In my opinion, I would personally say… it’s difficult because Jorge Martin and Pecco are very good.

“Pedro Acosta, Fabio Quartararo, Jorge Martin, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi. But after Marc Marquez, the truth is that we could put all of them second.”

Jorge Lorenzo explains why Alex Marquez doesn’t make his top five

Alex Marquez is a notable omission from the top five even though he’s on course to be runner-up this year. He’s outperformed Bagnaia, thrashed promising teammate Fermin Aldeguer and completely overshadowed the VR46 duo.

The Gresini ace is also the only rider, aside from Marc, to win multiple races this season. Lorenzo would place him just behind the aforementioned group.

This may be because he isn’t quite as spectacular to watch, and is viewed as an underdog. Ducati are considering Alex Marquez for 2027, should he maintain or even improve his current level next year.

Lorenzo said: “Alex Marquez has this aura that he doesn’t have much talent and visually, his riding style… Alex is not showy, but the evolution he’s made is impressive. Maybe I put him seventh!”