Jorge Lorenzo predicts a new era of Ducati MotoGP success is incoming

Triple MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo believes the Ducati in the hands of Pecco Bagnaia will be the combination to beat in the 2022 MotoGP World Championship, adding that Jorge Martin and Joan Mir would also be strong bets if they find themselves on the factory Desmo.

Lorenzo spent two modest seasons with Ducati in 2017 and 2018 after parting ways with Yamaha - with whom he won all three of his titles in 2010, 2012 and 2015 - before a difficult injury-riddled spell with Honda prompted him to retire at the end of the 2019 season.

The Spaniard was just one in a string of riders who struggled to adapt to the Ducati Desmosedici package, following on from Marco Melandri, Valentino Rossi and Cal Crutchlow, though his form turned around just as he was confirmed with Honda for the following year, scoring three wins in six races before injury ruined the tail-end of his year.

In time Ducati’s form - namely its consistency - has steadily improved, developments that led to it being the dominant force during the second-half of the 2021 season.

As such, though Fabio Quartararo clinched Yamaha’s first MotoGP crown since Lorenzo’s in 2015 last year, the Spaniard cannot see beyond a Ducati rider walking away with its first title in 15 years.

“Quartararo and Bagnaia are the favorites, but even though Fabio is champion I see Pecco with more possibilities, just because he has a Ducati, which for me is without a doubt the best bike around,” he told Motosan. 

Indeed, Lorenzo believes Ducati would have achieved more titles with the right riders on the bike, adding that the likes of Martin - currently competing on the Pramac machine - and 2020 MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir would be hot bets should they find themselves on a factory machine in future.

“I think this Ducati with Marquez or Stoner would have won other championships already and if all goes well in the future they will get it with Pecco or Martín. "

“ I think it was only by going to Ducati that Mir would take a clear step forward. Suzuki and Yamaha from the outside I see them with a similar level. 

“KTM isn't bad and the Honda and Aprilia look complicated, although they can be there too. The Ducati is very fast with any rider and it is not by chance… ”