Jorge Lorenzo highlights what makes his former MotoGP teammates Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi so similar

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Jorge Lorenzo is the only MotoGP rider to have shared a garage with both Marc Marquez and Valentino Rossi, and has shared the similarities between the two fierce rivals.

Rossi wasn’t happy with Yamaha after finding out they signed Lorenzo to be his teammate heading into the 2008 season.

Coming off the back of consecutive world championships in the 250cc category, the young Spaniard was one of the hottest prospects to join the grid alongside the iconic Italian.

Five years later, Marquez would appear on the scene. The Ant of Cervera instantly made his mark on the category, winning six races on his way to a rookie MotoGP title with the Repsol Honda team and marking the start of a power shift at the front of the grid in the premier class.

Lorenzo would go on to win his first title in 2015, in a season that ended in absolute controversy and saw Marquez and Rossi’s relationship become completely irreparable.

READ MORE: Kevin Schwantz issues verdict on whether Marc Marquez or Valentino Rossi is MotoGP’s ‘all-time’ best

Jorge Lorenzo says Valentino Rossi and Marc Marquez are both ‘competitive animals’

In Lorenzo’s final season in the premier class, he partnered with Marquez at the factory Honda team in place of the retiring Dani Pedrosa.

The Spaniard struggled immensely. As Marquez won his sixth MotoGP title, Lorenzo languished in 19th place in the riders’ standings, failing to even step foot on the podium.

In a recent episode of the Dura La Vita podcast, Lorenzo was asked for his opinion on the differences between his two premier class rivals, to which he replied, “In my opinion, Valentino is naturally a very open person and very intelligent.

“He’s very, very likeable and has had natural charisma since he was little.

“Marquez, on the other hand, is also charismatic, but more shy.”

After listing their differences, the two-time MotoGP champion then explained how similar the two rivals are as well, saying, “They are both competitive animals, and they do everything to win, they can do anything to win, so in that sense they are the same.”

Upon joining the premier class, Rossi actually took Marquez under his wing for a number of years, most likely because he saw part of himself in the young Spaniard.

However, due to the events of the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix, where Rossi kicked Marquez off his bike, the two foes have rarely looked each other in the eyes since.

READ MORE: Valentino Rossi must act as ‘eyewitness reports’ reveal ‘physical altercations’ after Marc Marquez crash

Marc Marquez could equal Valentino Rossi’s championship tally at the Japanese Grand Prix

Marquez could get one over on his fierce rival by equalling his championship tally at the upcoming MotoGP round at Motegi.

Marquez currently holds eight world championships to his name, with six of those coming in the premier class.

In a testament to their rivalry, Rossi was caught smiling after Marquez crashed out of the Misano Sprint race at the previous round of the 2025 season.

However, the incident only delayed Marquez’s coronation, as the 32-year-old is far enough ahead in the standings that his seventh MotoGP title is inevitable.

Marquez needs to outscore Alex Marquez by four points at Motegi to be crowned champion. It will be the fourth time in his career that he has won a title in Japan if he is successful.