Lorenzo: Marquez is ‘talented, fast, ambitious and brave’

Jorge Lorenzo has delivered a glowing appraisal of Honda rival Marc Marquez on the eve of the race weekend in Australia that could see the factory Yamaha rider surrender his MotoGP crown.

Should Marquez score eight points more than Lorenzo in Sunday’s 27-lap then the Repsol Honda rider will become the first rookie since Kenny Roberts in 1978 to capture the MotoGP crown.

Lorenzo, who has not won since he dominated the Misano race in San Marino last month, was full of praise for Marquez, who hasn’t finished outside of the top two since the Catalunya race in Barcelona back in June.

Lorenzo said: “We have been watching one of the most incredible riders that’s come into a new category in history. He is talented, fast, ambitious and brave and he will not only be world champion this year but maybe for many years.

“Obviously you need to have all the cards in your hands and he has this with a very good team, bike and sponsor. The tyres are easier than before and everything together makes him so competitive. It is him because he is a phenomenon, but he has the best tools he can have.”