Marc Marquez has revealed that he played a pivotal role in bringing Jorge Lorenzo to Honda for the 2019 MotoGP season, as he sought to stave off a growing challenge from Ducati. At the time, Ducati had begun to show signs of becoming a serious title contender, and Marquez, aware of the threat, urged Honda to secure Lorenzo’s signature to ensure continued dominance in the sport.
Lorenzo, a five-time world champion, made the move from Yamaha to Ducati in 2017, seeking a fresh challenge after a highly successful run with the Japanese manufacturer. However, his first season with Ducati was difficult, as it took time for him to adapt to the Desmosedici, which was markedly different from the Yamaha he was accustomed to. Despite a tough start, Lorenzo began to find his footing in 2018, scoring three race victories, including back-to-back wins in Mugello and Barcelona. These results demonstrated Ducati’s potential to compete at the highest level, with Lorenzo at the helm.
For Marquez, however, Ducati’s improvement signaled a serious threat. The Italian manufacturer had made significant strides under the guidance of technical chief Gigi Dall’Igna, and Marquez could sense that Ducati was closing the gap to Honda. As a result, Marquez took proactive steps to ensure Honda’s continued supremacy in MotoGP. He urged Honda to sign Lorenzo, recognizing that the Spaniard’s experience and championship pedigree would be a key asset in maintaining their competitive edge.
In the Spanish documentary La vida en rojo, Marquez discussed his conversations with Honda, explaining that he felt Ducati’s rise could soon lead to a serious challenge for the title. “When Lorenzo was already at Ducati, I told [Honda]: ‘They have arrived,'” Marquez recalled. “I said [to Honda] the best strategy is that you take Lorenzo and put him here. If not, another rider with another brand will beat you, because Lorenzo is Lorenzo, five-time world champion.”
Despite Marquez’s efforts, Ducati had already decided not to renew Lorenzo’s contract for 2019, opting instead to promote Danilo Petrucci from Pramac Racing. This opened the door for a surprise move, with Lorenzo agreeing to join Honda, replacing the retiring Dani Pedrosa.
Looking back, Lorenzo admitted that his adaptation to the Ducati was more challenging than he had anticipated. “What happened is that perhaps I thought the adaptation would be quicker,” he said. “It was a bike that ran faster on the straight, it was very stable when braking, but it did not have the turn of the Yamaha.” Lorenzo also faced internal team tensions after a crash at Jerez that involved Ducati’s title contender, Andrea Dovizioso, further complicating his relationship with the team.
After a difficult 2019 season at Honda, marked by injuries and poor results, Lorenzo retired from professional racing. Marquez’s push to bring Lorenzo to Honda ultimately proved short-lived, but it highlighted the fierce competition and strategy at play among the top MotoGP manufacturers.
