Not to beat that same drum again, but since the issue's already up... Rossi finished ahead of Lorenzo in 2014, nearly at par in 2015 and is running 14 points ahead in 2016 with three races to go. Lorenzo on a good day is faster than Rossi on a good day, while Rossi on a bad day is faster than Lorenzo on a bad day. In pure 'racing' terms, any unbiased observer would say they're at a roughly equivalent level. Which is why Lin Jarvis offered them contracts at the same time on equal terms with equal say in bike development.
Sure Rossi is almost 38 and there's always the risk of his age finally and irrevocably cutting off his competitiveness but as of October 2016 he's fast enough to merit another two years with the team.
In Jan 2018, Yamaha can revise that assessment with regard to future seasons. Lorenzo will be back on the market. Plus they'll have other options too. Maybe Zarco will excel on the Tech3. Maybe Rins will do well and they can make a play for him. Maybe someone from the junior classes will be ready for the big league (Binder, Bastianini, Morbidelli....). Maybe, just maybe, with Rossi out of the picture... Marquez will consider proving himself on a different bike.
Point is, Lorenzo chose to leave. Perhaps he calculated that Rossi would get slower still and Marquez would continue being erratic, giving him a good shot at the title on a Ducati. It wasn't a crazy decision that he was forced into. Keep in mind, he negotiated his deal with Ducati back in March, when Lorenzo dominated practice and broke the circuit record to finish first at Qatar on the Michelins, with Dovizioso coming in second. The money probably didn't hurt either.
Do they? Lorenzo's being given the same allowances that Yamaha is giving Bradley Smith and Pol Espargaro (who'll be a threat to Zarco & Folger next year).
In 2010, Yamaha first gave Lorenzo, who had zero world titles at the time, a well deserved equal standing with the then champion Rossi. Rossi in turn, (convinced that Lorenzo's results were inflated by Rossi's riding data & feedback), gave them a him-or-me ultimatum and was told to shove off. And when he returned, he was told in no unclear terms that Lorenzo was their #1 rider, and if he wanted parity he'd have to earn it (which to his credit...he did).
All evidence suggests that Yamaha have treated Lorenzo very professionally. That and a fast M1 is all Lorenzo would have really needed to compete for the title next year.
______________________________
No offence, but I suspect much of the angst comes from the realization that while Marquez is the odds-on favourite for the title next year, followed by Rossi and Vinales, Lorenzo's prospects are relatively bleak. He could of course surprise us, but I suspect, as many do, that the Desmosidici won't be nearly as strong next year as it has been in 2015 & 2016. And if so, that'll be a pity given how good he is and how much more competitive the sport has been with him on the M1.
Last edited:
