LORENZO PUTS MARQUEZ AND AGOSTINI AHEAD OF ROSSI IN GOAT DEBATE

Marc Marquez is closing in on another milestone in the debate over MotoGP’s greatest rider. A 2026 championship would take him past Valentino Rossi’s tally of premier-class titles: Rossi won seven, while Marquez matched that number with his 2025 crown. Marquez is also chasing his 10th world title overall, which would put him level with Giacomo Agostini for premier-class championships.

After the Qatar Grand Prix, Marquez leads Jorge Martin by 60 points. He could have secured the championship in Lusail, but Martin’s third place in the Sprint and seventh on Sunday meant the title fight will continue to Portimao. Marquez could surpass Rossi’s title count by winning the Portuguese Grand Prix Sprint.

Former MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo believes the GOAT discussion should focus on Marquez and Agostini, rather than Rossi. Speaking to TNT Sports 2 on the Qatar grid, Lorenzo said Marquez had been stronger the previous year before his Mandalika injury, caused by contact with Marco Bezzecchi. He felt the injury left Marquez physically weaker and made it harder to manage his condition this season.

Even so, Lorenzo expects Marquez to claim his 10th world title. “For me, he will be the greatest of all time, for sure in the modern era,” he said. Comparing Marquez with Agostini, Lorenzo added: “It’s going to be a discussion for sure with Giacomo Agostini about who is going to be the greatest of all time. But for me, technique and riding, he is the greatest of all time.”

Agostini, who has 15 world titles across his career, has resisted ranking riders from different eras and does not consider Marquez the GOAT. His overall record is unlikely to be beaten, but Marquez moving beyond Rossi’s premier-class tally would carry particular significance given the long-running rivalry between the two. That rivalry still resonates with fans, some of whom are now looking to Pedro Acosta as a future challenger to Marquez when the pair are set to race for Ducati in 2027.