Jorge Lorenzo has issued a warning to Marc Márquez, reminding him that “nothing is forever” as the 2026 MotoGP pre-season approaches, with Márquez preparing to defend his title amid a growing pool of challengers. At 32, Márquez became the oldest MotoGP champion in the 4-stroke era in 2025, but a shoulder injury cut his season short, making the upcoming Sepang test his first time back on a MotoGP bike in about three months since the Indonesian Grand Prix in October.
Márquez’s absence paved the way for Aprilia’s rise, with Marco Bezzecchi securing back-to-back wins and Raul Fernandez triumphing in Australia. Lorenzo, who remains the only rider to have beaten Márquez to a title before injuring his own right humerus in 2020, believes age will be Márquez’s biggest hurdle moving forward.
“You can’t predict the future,” Lorenzo said during the Valencia test on the MotoGP World Feed, noting that surprises and setbacks are part of the sport, citing this year’s mixed performances from Aprilia riders Alex Marquez and Bezzecchi. He pointed out that Márquez, who will be 33 or 34 in 2027, will inevitably face the effects of aging—slower reflexes and less willingness to take risks in challenging conditions—while younger competitors like Pedro Acosta, Martin, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia, all in their prime years, are getting stronger.
Lorenzo acknowledged that despite Márquez’s age, he remains an incredibly balanced rider, though the long injury layoff could impact his performance. He also praised Aprilia’s bike as a highly stable and compact machine, noting it has grown stronger, though it still falls short of Ducati’s pace. With Alex Marquez also on Aprilia’s roster, Lorenzo suggested it may become tougher for Marc to dominate as he did in 2025.
Fan Take: This narrative is a thrilling reminder that MotoGP is an ever-evolving sport where legends face the relentless march of time and fresh talent continuously emerges. Racing fans should brace for an exciting new era filled with fierce rivalries and the challenge of whether Márquez can maintain his dominance against a younger, hungry field.
