Marquez: Lorenzo didn't deserve final season like this
MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says his teammate Jorge Lorenzo didn't "deserve" to have had such a difficult season as his final year in grand prix racing.
The three-time champion toiled badly on the Honda in 2019 and ultimately chose to depart from the sport at the conclusion of the season, as recent injuries had taken their toll.
Yet despite Lorenzo's ill-fated campaign, his Repsol Honda team beat Ducati to the teams' title in the final race, with the imperious Marquez giving Honda a 2019 'triple crown' of riders', teams' and manufacturers' honours almost single-handedly.
"Finally we achieved our goal, the triple crown, to be able to say that Honda won everything in this 2019 - obviously thanks to the perfect season Marc did, not so much about my help," Lorenzo acknowledged, although both his 28-point contribution and the 16 points scored by stand-in Stefan Bradl were not extraneous given Repsol Honda only beat Ducati by 13 points.
Speaking after he'd concluded the season with his 12th win, Marquez said he was delighted to wrap up the teams' crown also for Lorenzo.
"We finished in the best way, that was winning the race in Valencia but especially taking the teams' championship, because all the Repsol Honda [crew] deserve it, and it's a way to say thanks, or bye, to Jorge.
"In the end the Jorge that I have in mind, that everybody has in mind, is the five-time world champion. And in the end we will celebrate something together, and this also makes me happy.
"Jorge does not deserve to have this as his retirement year, this season does not reflect his great career and what it has meant for motorcycling.
"It meant a lot on his part that he came to celebrate the championship here on the podium with us."
Marquez, who claimed his 12th win of the season in Valencia, had slipped down to sixth at the start but swiftly recovered to second place and reeled in race leader Fabio Quartararo.
And while he'd left it until the last lap to overtake Quartararo for the lead in Misano and Buriram, he sought to pass the Frenchman earlier this time, making the move on the eighth lap and controlling the race from there.
"In Malaysia I did the best start of the season, here I did the worst start of the season," Marquez said. "Something happened, was a little bit downhill, the bike was moving, my body position was not the correct one and I started not so good.
"But apart from that we did a great comeback. In two laps we overtook many riders, and Fabio was going away and in two or three laps I caught him.
"My strategy, I told to Alberto [Puig, team boss] before the race, is try to lead the race. Here for technical reasons I felt better in front than behind and it's what I did - catch Fabio and try to overtake him as soon as possible."
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, Fabio Quartararo, Petronas Yamaha SRT
Photo by: MotoGP
Previous article
Valencia MotoGP test: Day 1 in pictures
Next article
Crutchlow: No disappointment over Repsol Honda snub
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Event | Valencia GP |
| Sub-event | Race |
| Drivers | Marc Marquez , Jorge Lorenzo |
| Teams | Repsol Honda Team |
| Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title
