Marc Márquez’s face changed when he learned that Jorge Lorenzo was going to be his new team-mate. The Cervera rider wanted (and let Honda know) Dani Pedrosa to continue at least one more year in Honda.
But Alberto Puig, the team manager, wanted to have two first swords in the garage and, knowing that the relationship between Lorenzo and Ducati was not going through its best and that the Italian team wanted to promote Andrea Dovizioso to the first team category, he went straight for the Mallorcan.
Jorge Lorenzo is willing to improve
Lorenzo said yes without a second thought. Among other things because he knew that the Honda would, in theory, adapt better to its possibilities. He was either second on Ducati, a bike that has never finished taming, or theoretically second on Honda, a more docile bike.
A signing that revolutionised the MotoGP paddock. Among other things because there were many who warned that the coexistence Márquez Lorenzo was not going to be easy. They are two winners and two riders of character.
Well, the war has already started even before the start of the year. In a recent interview Lorenzo made it clear that he has not become anyone’s second. “You know what Jorge Lorenzo said,” many in the nets ask. It’s no mean feat.
As soon as he could, he made his intentions clear: “I have a lot to learn from Marc, because this will be his seventh year in the team, so he has a lot more experience than I do. But I’m sure he’ll also learn things from me, although maybe less. We are two champions and two very fast riders.
Good memories
He also recalled a fact that he has not forgotten: “I am the only rider who has been able to win a title from Márquez. That year (2015) also Valentino Rossi could have done it. I think I was the fastest and luckily I was able to proclaim myself champion by a few points. But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen again. I’m going to do my best to do it again and win my sixth World Championship, although obviously it’s not going to be easy,” he said.
A Lorenzo who is going to make a lot of war at Honda. Alberto Puig, obviously, will be delighted with it. Not so much Márquez. We’ll see, once the championship starts, how events unfold. Everything points to the fact that, as many warn and warn, peace in Honda is over.