Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Lorenzo shared fierce battles with some of the best MotoGP riders in history, and believes that one midfield rider who is currently on the premier class grid is more ‘talented’ than his former factory Ducati teammate, Andrea Dovizioso.
During Marc Marquez’s most successful era in MotoGP, Jorge Lorenzo stands as the only rider who managed to put a stop to his compatriot’s period of sheer dominance.
Another rider who went toe-to-toe with the then-factory Honda star is Andrea Dovizioso, who pushed Marquez to the limit in the final seasons that rounded out the 2010s.
Unfortunately, the Italian rider was never able to get the better of Marquez over the course of a full season, retiring from a full-time gig mid-way through the 2022 campaign.
Dovizioso is widely regarded as one of the best MotoGP riders to have never won a premier class title, and the rider who Lorenzo believes is more talented than him arguably joins him on that list, too.
- READ MORE: Andrea Dovizioso realised he had to change ‘immediately’ after watching Marc Marquez at Honda
Give us your MotoGP Mount Rushmore
Jorge Lorenzo believes Maverick Vinales is more ‘talented’ than Andrea Dovizioso
During a recent appearance on the Spanish TV show El Larguero, the three-time premier class title-winner was asked about the title hopes he has for his latest protege, Maverick Vinales.
Lorenzo is highly optimistic that Top Gun is still capable of securing himself a MotoGP championship, as he named three Grand Prix winners in the premier class that he believes Vinales is more talented than.
He said, “Look, I’ll give you the example of Alex Marquez. Alex Marquez in 2024 always seemed a long way off from his brother.
“Then suddenly, from one season to the next, he led the championship at times and ended up as the runner-up.
“Nobody gave a damn about when Sete Gibernau fought Valentino Rossi for the championship in, I think, 2003-2004.
“Nobody gave a damn about Dovizioso’s victories when he fought Marquez with Ducati, and I think Maverick is more talented than those three riders. And as for talent, as for speed, he can do it.”
Despite Vinales having a promising start to his MotoGP career, he hasn’t been able to live up to the expectations that were set out for him.
Lorenzo is clearly trying to put that right through the extra efforts he is making in the Spaniard’s training regime.
- READ MORE: Maverick Vinales thinks he can do something Pedro Acosta has never managed with Jorge Lorenzo’s help
Do you think that Andrea Dovizioso was Marc Marquez’s closest rival during the Honda years?
Jorge Lorenzo has set Maverick Vinales an important ‘goal’ for the upcoming MotoGP campaign
Of course, Lorenzo isn’t expecting Top Gun to emerge as a title candidate this year with Tech3, but he has set his protege an important goal to see if the extra aid is paying off or not.
Lorenzo wants Vinales to be the leading KTM rider once bikes hit the circuit in the upcoming campaign, which may prove to be a tall order given the impressive form that Pedro Acosta showed last season.
With the new era of MotoGP regulations taking effect in 2027, Vinales may be able to use his impressive form in the new season to secure himself a more competitive seat on the grid.
At this moment in time, it seems like the only realistic option for him to be able to repay the faith that Lorenzo has in him.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
