Lorenzo and the fabricated Rossi quote: What he really said about Marquez

• On TNT Sports, Lorenzo only talked about Marc Marquez and Giacomo Agostini – he never mentioned Rossi
• TNT Sports has published the full interview clip
• Lorenzo calls the reports manipulation and demands severe penalties

It was really about Marc Marquez. Ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, Jorge Lorenzo spoke to broadcaster TNT Sports about where the Spaniard would stand in motorcycle racing history with a tenth world title. A few days later, a sharpened version of his answer was doing the rounds – and suddenly Valentino Rossi was part of it. Praise for Marquez had turned into a dig at Lorenzo’s old rival. Lorenzo has responded with an unusually sharp statement.

What did Jorge Lorenzo actually say on TNT Sports?

In the interview, Lorenzo spoke exclusively about Marc Marquez and Giacomo Agostini. He did not mention Valentino Rossi by name.

In the clip, Lorenzo explains that Marquez was very strong last year. After his injury in Mandalika he suffered and had to manage his body. If Marquez wins his tenth world title, he would, in Lorenzo’s view, undoubtedly be the greatest of the modern era. Then you would have to debate whether he or Agostini is the greatest of all time. In terms of technique and riding ability, Lorenzo already sees Marquez at the very top.

TNT Sports published the full clip on X on 11 November, noting that this is exactly what Lorenzo said before the race. This means his statement can be checked word for word.

Which sentence was attributed to Lorenzo?

In several reports, Lorenzo’s answer ended with an additional sentence: Rossi does not belong in this group. That sentence does not appear in the interview.

The line surfaced in slightly different versions, including in Italian and Spanish media. Some put it in quotation marks and turned it into a direct quote, others built their headlines around it. What Lorenzo supposedly said about Rossi suddenly took centre stage, while his actual assessment of Marquez faded into the background. Motorcycles.News had also adopted this framing in an article on the GOAT debate and has since corrected it. GOAT stands for “Greatest of all time”.

How is Lorenzo reacting to the false reports?

Lorenzo speaks of journalistic manipulation and is calling for such behaviour to be severely punished. He published his statement on Instagram on Wednesday, 11 November, in Spanish, Italian and English.

In it, he writes that false information and headlines taken out of context have been spread about him. The English version reads: “It is one thing to engage in sensationalism, but fabricating a claim that I mentioned a driver whom I did not even name in my statement crosses the line into media manipulation.”

According to Lorenzo, many media outlets no longer know any limits when it comes to attention and clicks, even if someone’s reputation is damaged in the process. His conclusion: “This type of conduct should carry severe penalties!” In the Spanish and Italian versions, Lorenzo also asks other media to watch the original interview before publishing. He added several emojis expressing disgust and anger to the post.

Why does a sentence about Rossi cause such a stir with Lorenzo?

Lorenzo and Rossi share a long and bitter rivalry. Every statement one makes about the other is therefore read especially closely.

The two were team-mates at Yamaha for years. Early on, Rossi even had a wall put up in the garage so that no information could reach the other side. In 2015, Lorenzo won his last premier-class title with a five-point lead over Rossi. It came at the end of a season in which Rossi accused Marquez of deliberately riding against him. After the collision with Marquez at Sepang, Rossi had to start the Valencia finale from the back of the grid.

Then there is the timing. Rossi is currently presenting his autobiography and spoke about 2015 again on the Italian TV show “Che tempo che fa”. Back then, he said, Marquez only fought to make him lose, and that still hurts today. The alleged Lorenzo quote was doing the rounds in exactly these days.

What is at stake for Marc Marquez in Portimão?

Marquez can win his eighth premier-class title at the Portuguese Grand Prix. If he wins the Sprint on Saturday, 21 November, the title is his.

After the race in Qatar, he leads Jorge Martin by 60 points. An eighth premier-class title would put him level with Agostini, who won his eight titles in the former 500cc class and has 15 world titles in total. Rossi won seven titles in the premier class and nine across all classes. Marquez would have ten after winning the title. These numbers are the backdrop to the GOAT debate that accompanies the final races of the 2026 MotoGP season.

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