Jorge Lorenzo, an officially inducted MotoGP legend, has revisited his tumultuous relationship with Valentino Rossi during their time together at Yamaha. Despite a disappointing end at Honda, Lorenzo remains a notable rider in motorcycle Grands Prix, having won five world titles and etching his name in the history of the competition.
By joining the higher category in 2008 as a teammate of Valentino Rossi in the factory team Yamaha , Lorenzo quickly proved its worth. Red hadn't anticipated having such a competitive rival on his team, which created tension between them. But today, in retirement, the two champions have put aside their rivalry. In 2021, Lorenzo was even invited to the Ranch Red to participate in the 100 km of Champions in Tavullia.
In an interview on Jordi Wild's *The Wild Project* podcast, Lorenzo described their strained relationship at Yamaha : " we didn't talk from the start. If we passed each other, we would just say hello. We hated each other. Maybe 'hate' is too strong a word, but I didn't want it to be quick. There was real antipathy between us. »
Lorenzo recalls an incident that soured their relationship. In 2005, while racing in 250cc, he was asked by a journalist about the possibility of beating Red if this one came in the same category. “ I said yes, and a lot of people found me arrogant. But I really thought that with the same bike I could beat him."
Jorge Lorenzo: “ Valentino Rossi left Yamaha for Ducati out of jealousy »
In 2010, Valentino Rossi left Yamaha for Ducati. Lorenzo confirms that this decision was motivated by jealousy: “ he left out of jealousy. In 2010, I won my first world championship, and he asked Yamaha to choose between him and me. Yamaha wanted him to stay, but if he forced them to choose, he would have to leave."
Red therefore joined Ducati, but his two seasons there were difficult. When he returned home Yamaha in 2013, their relationship deteriorated again, said Jorge Lorenzo : “ step by step, he regained control of the team and we are back to a 50-50 relationship. From there, the rivalry resurfaced."
Lorenzo also evokes the injury of Red at Mugello in 2010, which paved the way for his own world title: “ he should have won, but he fell and was out for months. This made it easier for me to win the championship."
However, Lorenzo admits on Motoracing that without competition from Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa et Marquez, he would have accumulated more titles: “ without them, I would have been champion ten or twelve times."
