Jorge Lorenzo says he could have won ‘another world championship’ while Marc Marquez was injured

Add as preferred source on Google

Jorge Lorenzo retired from MotoGP at the end of 2019, his one and only season at Honda.

Lorenzo’s serious crash at Assen, in which he sustained two spinal fractures, heavily contributed to his decision to walk away. His results when he did race were also disappointing.

He had already achieved what he wanted from his MotoGP career after winning the 2010, 2012 and 2015 titles. Lorenzo was the first rider to beat Marc Marquez and conquer each member of the ‘Fantastic Five’.

But speaking to Corriere della Sera earlier this year, Lorenzo claimed he had another world championship in him.

‘I could have won another title at Ducati,’ Jorge Lorenzo says

Marquez lifted the MotoGP trophy in six of his first seven seasons, but he suffered a serious arm injury at the start of 2020 that left him on the sidelines.

Honda believe Marquez would have dominated that year, but it was wide open in his absence. The eventual champion, Joan Mir, only won one race for Suzuki.

Lorenzo was only 33 at the start of that season – a year older than Marquez is right now. Had he stayed with Ducati, his compatriot’s injury could have given him one last title shot.

Asked if he had any regrets, Lorenzo said: “No, because you can’t change the past.

“But I could have continued with Ducati and won at least another world championship, thanks also to the injury that would have stopped Marquez. But that’s my belief. Maybe I’m wrong.”

Andrea Dovizioso was the lead Ducati in the 2020 standings with 135 points, only 36 behind champion Mir.

Why Marc Marquez thrashed Jorge Lorenzo at Honda in 2019

Ducati prioritised keeping Dovizioso over Lorenzo, which gave Honda an opportunity to pair two Spanish legends.

But it quickly became clear that there would be no intense rivalry. With Marquez on the road to one of the most dominant seasons ever, Lorenzo didn’t crack the top 10 in any of the first seven races.

Lorenzo immediately felt uncomfortable on the Honda bike, which he felt was a step in the wrong direction from 2018.

Lorenzo ranks fifth all-time for premier-class wins (47), while only Marquez and Valentino Rossi can better his record of 114 podiums.