The misunderstood reigning world champion speaks exclusively to MCN about Rossi, the motivation he gets from being booed, his move to Ducati and why he’s still getting faster...

Despite being a multiple world champion, Jorge Lorenzo is quite possibly the most unpopular man in racing. Disliked by fans, misunderstood by the paddock, the 29-year-old Spaniard has become the pantomime villain to the overawing force that is Valentino Rossi.

Yet when you actually bump into the five-time world champion in the paddock or sit down with him for an interview, there’s a whole other side to him that emerges. Gone is the arrogance that many accuse him of, and instead you’re left with a friendly, funny, if sometimes a little awkward, guy.

But despite how he is up close and personal, the hatred for him within the grandstands is palpable and has only increased this year, fuelled by the events of the now infamous Rossi/Marquez clash in Sepang last year and the fallout from it.

For a lesser man, hearing the cacophony of boos every time he leaves the garage would be enough to dent even the biggest ego. But Lorenzo isn’t a lesser man, he’s the reigning world champion, a man in his prime and a man powered by a bulletproof mindset.

Speaking exclusively to MCN, a headstrong and defiant Lorenzo said:

"For me, being booed is a good sign! I would be disappointed if it was from fans who don’t support Rossi – but coming from them, it’s a good sign, because it means we’re beating him and getting good results".

 "In the crowds, it’s clear that Rossi has many fans – 80% of the fans are wearing yellow, and they think that Rossi is without any doubt the best rider in history. But the best rider in history is not winning the world championship and hasn’t since 2009. With the same tyres and the same bike, I have 34 victories and he has 17".

The tension between MotoGP’s loveless triangle of Rossi, Lorenzo and Marquez reached new heights at the recent Mugello race. So concerned were MotoGP bosses about safety at Rossi’s home round that both Lorenzo and Marquez were assigned burly bodyguards who were tasked with escorting the two Spaniards throughout the paddock all weekend.

"You never know what you can find from 50,000 or 70,000 people though," says Lorenzo.

"You never know if there’s going to be one really crazy one. It’s better to take preventions, and Dorna have given bodyguards to me and Marquez. It shouldn’t happen though. It’s only happening with Rossi’s fans and he hasn’t stopped the situation"...

"Hopefully it won’t go any further than this. But it’s still a good sign – a sign that we’re winning and a sign that we’re strong. I think even when he leaves, there will still be fans who come and support him, but it will hopefully be much less".

Moreover, while he might not get the respect he deserves from the crowds, the Spaniard is in hot demand from the factories – as was evident in the bidding war between Yamaha and Ducati that finally saw him switch to the Italian manufacturer for next season.

"From the fans of Rossi, I get less respect, but not from the factories. I think, since 2012, I’m the best-paid racer in MotoGP, when Valentino came from Ducati to Yamaha. At Ducati, he was the best paid, but since he came back it’s been me – and the contract from Yamaha for next year was even higher. I was the most valued rider".


Words: Simon Patterson - Published: by MCN, 29 June 2016