MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo's moving farewell speech

At a time when the paddock is buzzing over the phone about the return of Jorge Lorenzo as a test rider of a manufacturer fielding in-line 4-cylinders in MotoGP (…), we are choosing for the moment to return to the very moving speech of the Majorcan rider delivered during the last Grand Prix in Valencia.

The sincerity of Jorge Lorenzo there was no doubt and the emotion was very present in the crowded press room, as well as at certain moments in the misty eyes of the pilot himself and many of the people facing him...

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Introduction

Hello everyone, and thank you very much to everyone who accepted my invitation and are present at this press conference. It really means a lot to me and makes me happy. I always thought there were four significant days in a driver's career: your first race, your first victory, your first championship, and then the day you retire. Well, as you can imagine, I'm here to tell you that day has come for me. I want to announce that this will be my last race in MotoGP. I am retiring from professional competition.

I was three years old...

I was three years old when it all started. Almost 30 years completely dedicated to my sport. Those who have worked with me know how perfectionist I am, how hard work and intensity I put into my sport. Being such a perfectionist requires a great deal of motivation, and that's why after nine unforgettable years with Yamaha (undoubtedly the most glorious of my career) I felt the need to change if I wanted to maintain this great involvement in my sport. . Switching to Ducati gave me that drive I needed, and even though the results were bad, I used that extra motivation as fuel to not give up, and ultimately win that particular race at Mugello, in front of everyone Ducati fans. Then, when I signed with Honda, I experienced a similar journey, realizing one of every driver's dreams: becoming an official HRC driver.

Injuries…

Unfortunately, injuries arrived early to play an important role during my season, making me unable to ride with normal physical conditions. This, plus a bike that never felt natural, made my races very difficult. Regardless, I never lost my patience and kept fighting, thinking that it was only a matter of time for things to fall into place. But, just as I was starting to see some light, I suffered this nasty crash during the test in Montmeló and then, a few weeks later, another, horrible one, in Assen. This time, I have to admit, when I stopped rolling in the gravel, the first thought that crossed my mind was, "What the hell am I doing here?" Is it really worth it? I'm done with that! » A few days later, after much reflection on my life and career, I decided to try again. I wanted to make sure I wasn't making a hasty decision.

The truth is…

The truth came from this fall. The mountain had become too high for me, and although I tried, I couldn't find the motivation and patience to be able to continue climbing it. You know, I love this sport, I love driving, but most of all, I love winning. I understood that if I was not able to fight for something big, fight for the title or at least fight for victories, I could not find the motivation to continue in this particular moment in my career. I realized that achieving my goal with Honda, at least in the short term, was not realistic. I have to say that I'm really sorry for Honda, especially for Alberto, who was really the one who trusted me and gave me this opportunity. I remember that day when we met in Montmeló and I told him: “don’t make a mistake by signing the wrong driver, Alberto, trust me and you won’t regret it.” » Very sadly, I must say that I disappointed him, just as I did with Takeo, Kuwata, Nomura San and my entire team, who I must say have always treated me exceptionally . However, I really feel that this is the best decision for me and for the team: Jorge Lorenzo and Honda cannot be here just to score a few points!

Looking back on my great career

Looking back on my splendid and successful career, I always said that I was a very lucky boy. Sometimes I feel a bit like the movie “One in a Billion”, the documentary that explains the life of the only Indian who never played in the NBA. During my career, I have competed against dozens and dozens of exceptional drivers of my generation, some of them sometimes even more talented than me. None of them had as much success as me, and in particular most of them didn't even make it to the world championship, having to fall back on normal jobs. That's why I feel so lucky to have been able to achieve so much more than I could have ever imagined I could achieve when I started. And yes, it's true, I have always worked very hard, but if I hadn't been in the right place at the right time, and especially without the help of the many people who worked with me during my career , it would have been impossible for me to achieve what I achieved.

I would like to thank…

This is why I would like to sincerely thank all these people. Especially Carmelo and Dorna, for their treatment and for making MotoGP so great. Derbi, Aprilia, Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, especially Giampiero Sacchi, Gigi Dall'Igna, Lin Jarvis and Alberto Puig. Obviously, my mother for giving birth to me, and my father for all his sacrifices and passing on to me the passion for this sport. My fans and my fan club for their unconditional love all these years. Thank you to everyone who worked with me as a personal team, with a special mention to Albert Valera for always being honest and loyal.
So. With all my heart, I truly wish you the best, professionally and personally.
Thanks for all.