Jorge Lorenzo does not believe that Aprilia and Jorge Martin will part ways prematurely – he also compares the riding styles of Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia
Even though things are currently very tense between Aprilia and Jorge Martin, former MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo does not believe that the two parties will actually part ways prematurely. “I think it’s more likely that Aprilia and Martin will get their act together in the end, even if they have to be forced to do so.”
The Spaniard assumes that they will “at least fulfill the current contract.” Martin recently invoked an exit clause that would allow him to leave the team at the end of 2025. Aprilia sees things differently and insists on the fulfillment of the two-year contract.
Should the partnership come to an end prematurely, Lorenzo mentions two possible scenarios for a successor in an interview with GPOne.com: an experienced rider such as Enea Bastianini or a young talent from Moto2.
“Bastianini is a rider who already has MotoGP experience, has won races and achieved many podium finishes. So you have the guarantee that he can ride fast if he gets a bike he likes.”
“A Moto2 rider may be younger, but still has to prove himself. If they don’t continue with Martin, Aprilia will certainly have alternatives,” says Lorenzo.
Marquez as a reference and Bagnaia under pressure
Lorenzo also spoke about the tension within the Ducati factory team. While Marc Marquez is the clear reference in his first season on the current Ducati factory bike, his teammate Francesco Bagnaia is struggling with uncertainties, especially with the feel of the front.
“Psychologically, you always feel stronger when you’re the fastest or on par with him. When you feel inferior, you lose confidence. That’s how it was for me with Stoner or Valentino,” Lorenzo draws the comparison.
In his opinion, Bagnaia is doing well, but it’s extremely difficult to keep up with an exceptional talent like Marquez. From a technical point of view, Lorenzo points to the differences in the two riders’ styles.
“Pecco is a rider who likes to have everything under control both on and off the track, and at the moment he doesn’t feel comfortable with the front of the bike. With his style, he needs a lot of confidence in the front wheel, while Marquez is more used to riding without that confidence,“ he analyzes.
The former rider adds: ”Bagnaia has a riding style like me, Biaggi or Cadalora. We need a very stable motorcycle. Riders like Marquez or Stoner, on the other hand, are fast even when the motorcycle has many weaknesses.”
Don’t make the same mistake as Honda
Lorenzo takes a differentiated view of the development work at Ducati. The Spaniard only partially shares the concern that Ducati could adapt too much to Marquez’s extreme riding style and thus end up in a similar dead end as Honda.
“Ducati doesn’t just listen to the factory team. They also analyze feedback from VR46 and other teams. That’s why I don’t think they only listen to Marquez.“
”He certainly has a very extreme riding style, completely different from a standard rider. But it’s also true that he has a lot of experience and is a veteran of the category. So he will definitely have improved in that aspect,” says Lorenzo.
