Jorge Lorenzo to become MotoGP Legend at Jerez
Jorge Lorenzo and two other inductees into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame this year will finally receive honours that were announced back in 2020.
Adding Jorge Lorenzo, Hugh Anderson and Max Biaggi to the roster of MotoGP Legends was originally scheduled for selected rounds in the 2020 MotoGP season, but with all the calendar changes and absence of crowds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was decided to delay all three inductions until a more traditional MotoGP Legend ceremony could held – allowing each inductee the opportunity to celebrate the milestone in the company of family members, friends, paddock personnel and media.
Back in March, the date and location for Lorenzo’s induction was announced, with the five-time World Champion to be inducted on 30 April at Jerez – the same track where he made his grand prix debut on his 15th birthday – as part of the Spanish GP weekend.
Jorge Lorenzo. 250cc World Champion – 2006, 2007. MotoGP World Champion – 2010, 2012, 2015
Lorenzo, who retired from MotoGP at the end of 2019, made his grand prix debut in the 125cc World Championship in 2002.
The Majorcan would spend three years in the 125cc class, achieving four race wins and five other podiums, before stepping up to the 250cc category in 2005, then winning the 250cc World Championship in 2006 and 2007.
Moving to MotoGP with the factory Yamaha team in 2008, Lorenzo took pole on his debut in the premier class and his first race win two rounds later.
MotoGP World Champion in 2010, 2012 and 2015 – all with Yamaha – Lorenzo next spent two years with Ducati, taking three race wins across 2017-2018, before joining Honda in 2019 for what would be his final year in the premier class.
While his MotoGP career ended with a whimper rather than a bang, Lorenzo remains one of grand prix racing’s most successful riders, with 68 wins and 84 other podiums across all classes, as well as 69 poles and 37 fastest race laps.
“To be named a MotoGP Legend makes me extremely happy,” said Lorenzo when his induction was initially announced back in 2020.
“When I began competing in this world, what I really aspired to do was to get into the World Championship. To be able to win races and then five World Championships is something that far outweighs what I expected, and to be a MotoGP Legend is something even more difficult to achieve.
“To be named a Legend means, apart from the titles, that you’ve left a mark on the people and history of this sport.”