This weekend’s Moto GP season-ending race in Valencia will be an emotional one for five-time Moto GP world champion Jorge Lorenzo who has decided to retire from the sport.
The 32-year-old Spaniard has not had a great season which has been indundated with injuries and bad results. Reuters reports that he leaves a much-coveted vacancy alongside Marc Marquez, the six times MotoGP world champion, at the Repsol Honda team.
On his decision to retire he said:
“I love this sport but above all I love winning,” he said at a special news conference also attended by series CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta.
“I have let myself down and I have let down Honda but I think this is the best decision for me and the team. We are both winners and we always have to fight to win.”
I’m leaving a big family, a little village that travels around the world in search of glory and happiness. I will miss you guys. Thanks so much for making my “4th significant” day so unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/hCtyyuOYaq
— Jorge Lorenzo (@lorenzo99) November 15, 2019
Thank you so much!!! https://t.co/0dDZ06mu1W
— Jorge Lorenzo (@lorenzo99) November 17, 2019
Italian MotoGp champion and one of the most successful racers of all time Valentino Rossi probably had the most volatile and interesting relationship with Lorenzo.
Rossi described Lorenzo as “one of the most important MotoGP riders in the modern era” and believes they had “some of the best races” together.
“I think we lose a very important part of our sport,” said Rossi of Lorenzo’s departure. He is a great champion, he impressed me a lot of times for his speed and concentration. From when he arrived in MotoGP, he was always strong, from 2008, so more than 10 years. We were team-mates for a long time, a lot of years together we shared the same box and I think he’s, personally, one of the greatest rivals of my career.
“We did some of the best races together that I remember in my history, so it’s a great shame that he’s finished,” he said.
.jpg)
