Marco Bezzecchi
Jorge Lorenzo thinks Marc Marquez has Valentino Rossi’s MotoGP record ‘in mind’ as he fights through his latest injury.
Marquez missed last weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix after undergoing surgery on his foot and shoulder. He was already planning a procedure after discovering that a screw (from an operation last autumn) was pressing on his radial nerve, then he fractured his fifth metatarsal in a highside during the Le Mans Sprint.
Marquez is a doubt for the upcoming Italian GP, too, as his hopes of winning the title fade. Jorge Martin’s non-score in Barcelona helped him, but he now trails championship leader Marco Bezzecchi by 85 points.
Jorge Lorenzo: Marc Marquez will keep extending his career until he beats Valentino Rossi
Marquez entered the year as the heavy favourite to retain the title given his 2025 dominance. He’s gunning for an eighth premier-class crown, which would see him surpass great rival Rossi as the most successful rider of the modern era.
However, Marquez says he was riding with ‘one and a half arms’ at the first five races. While some have questioned whether he has the appetite to overcome yet another surgery, Lorenzo thinks he wants to complete his career by beating Rossi’s record.
No official announcement has been made, but Marquez has reportedly agreed to continue racing at Ducati in 2027 and potentially 2028, too.
Will the opportunity to beat Valentino Rossi inspire Marc Marquez to fight through his latest injury?
Lorenzo told Mundo Deportivo: “He’s very close to beating Valentino; they both have that ninth overall title and seventh MotoGP title. He’s only one away from surpassing him; they’re tied.
“Agostini’s 15 titles are still a long way off, but nothing is impossible, so I think being able to retire as the most successful rider in history is a major motivation that Marc surely has in mind, and until he feels competitive, he’ll want to extend his career as much as possible.”
Even Rossi acknowledges that Marquez has been unlucky so far this year. He’s still 16 wins clear of Marquez in the all-time leaderboard.
Rossi also leads the way for podiums with 199, a record that may never be broken. Marquez is still 73 behind on 126.
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