Jorge Lorenzo, former MotoGP star, believes that Marc Marquez has developed greater respect for his rivals during on-track battles, which contrasts with the very aggressive style he initially displayed.

Lorenzo, who was Marquez’s main rival during his prime in the 2010s, even teamed up with him at Honda during his final season in 2019. Since then, their careers have taken different paths, with Lorenzo becoming a commentator for DAZN, while Marquez joined Gresini Ducati in 2024 after challenging years with Honda and his injuries.

Reflecting on Marquez’s evolution, Lorenzo admitted that he wasn’t a fan of Marquez’s riding style when he entered MotoGP in 2013. However, he believes Marquez has matured since then.

“In 2013, I didn’t approve of his aggressive riding,” said Lorenzo at the Festival dello Sport in Italy. “Now, he shows more respect for his competitors. It’s also true that the rules are stricter than they were 10 years ago.” Marquez managed to secure six titles in his first seven years, with his dominance interrupted only once in 2015 by Lorenzo.

Marquez’s career took a downward turn following Lorenzo’s retirement, starting with a severe crash in 2020 at Jerez, which left him with an injury and many complications. Despite multiple surgeries and extended recovery periods, by the time Marquez regained his fitness, Honda’s RC213V had become the slowest bike on the grid.

Lorenzo believes Marquez could have won additional titles if his arm injury at Jerez hadn’t occurred and derailed his career.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete,” Lorenzo said. “Since 2020, his physical condition has been unfortunate. Without those setbacks, he would have claimed at least two or three more world championships.”

Marquez’s struggles at Honda led him to leave the team before his contract expired, moving to Gresini for the 2024 season. He’s set to join the factory Ducati team next year, partnering with Francesco Bagnaia, positioning him for a possible championship battle for the first time since 2019.

Lorenzo himself spent two seasons with Ducati in 2017 and 2018, as he tried to secure the Italian brand’s first title since 2007. Despite finding form in his second season, winning three races, the partnership ended before he was able to achieve that goal.

Looking back, Lorenzo expressed regret over not winning a title with Ducati, as he believes that with more time, he would have managed to achieve it.