Jorge Lorenzo tells Honda that losing Marc Marquez wasn’t their biggest mistake

Add as preferred source on Google

Honda’s factory team still haven’t won a MotoGP race since Marc Marquez left at the end of 2023. The RC213V was victorious in 2025, but in the hands of LCR rider Johann Zarco.

Overall, Honda can still feel positive about their season. They have escaped Rank D of the concessions system, a marker of their progress.

In addition to Zarco’s Le Mans win, Joan Mir scored a podium at the Japanese GP. There’s talk that Honda have built a ‘phenomenal’ bike for 2026, too.

Still, their six-year title drought – the longest in their MotoGP history – is ongoing. And Jorge Lorenzo thinks they could still be winning championships if they hadn’t made one mistake.

Jorge Lorenzo says Honda must regret not signing Luigi Dall’Igna

Speaking to GPOne, Lorenzo said Honda should have tried harder to sign Luigi Dall’Igna.

Dall’Igna has been called the Adrian Newey of MotoGP and is regarded as the architect of Ducati’s recent dominance.

In a sense, Ducati have become the new Honda, even before signing Marquez. They have won every constructors’ title since the Japanese giants last lifted the trophy.

Lorenzo believes that Honda could have kept Marquez, and sustained their dominance, if they’d signed Dall’Igna. Instead, they’ve placed their trust in former Aprilia engineer Romano Albesiano, who has made an encouraging start.

“In my opinion, Honda’s biggest mistake was not hiring Dall’Igna,” said Lorenzo, who raced for the team in 2019. “They tried, but perhaps not enough.

“If they had, Marquez would have stayed with Honda, and Honda would be winning championships today.”

One criticism of Honda and indeed Yamaha is that they’ve been reluctant to embrace European ideas in the development of their bikes. Both teams may now be going through a cultural shift.

Is this the superstar Honda will sign to fill the Marc Marquez void?

Honda felt it was ‘useless’ to have Marquez when they were at their lowest ebb. Perhaps that’s why they’ve held onto Luca Marini, renowned for his contribution to development, and the vastly experienced Johann Zarco.

But the most successful team on the grid feel they’re ready to have a superstar again come 2027. They even tried to sign Jorge Martin from Aprilia for next year in what became a public saga.

But Honda’s top target is Pedro Acosta. While they’re unlikely to have a free run at the KTM sensation, it’s easy to fashion him as the next Marquez.