Lorenzo reckons Marquez will become the greatest MotoGP rider ever

Marquez won the MotoGP title at the first attempt in 2013, and became the series' youngest champion too at the age of 20.

The Honda rider began his title defence with 10 straight wins before the streak ended with a muted fourth in the Czech Grand Prix earlier this month.

Rossi set new records in premier class grand prix motorcycle racing during his heyday, but his Yamaha team-­mate Lorenzo believes Marquez has every chance to outstrip those achievements.

"He can get it if he doesn't get injured and if he keeps a very strong bike like he has now, if he keeps on training like he is training now and with the motivation that he has in racing now," Lorenzo told the Australian Grand Prix podcast.

"He's very talented and he's not scared of anything, still.

"He has everything. He's young, talented, ambitious and has a good bike and a good team."

RECORDS ALREADY BROKEN

Marquez has beaten Rossi's early ­career statistics already, with Rossi not winning his first top­-class title until 21 ­years ­old, and Marquez already on course for his second MotoGP crown at that age.

Rossi holds the record for 500cc/MotoGP grand prix wins with 80, but still trails Giacomo Agostini for victories across all grand prix classes with his total of 106 still 16 behind his fellow Italian legend.

Rossi has also won seven top-division titles (one adrift of Agostini) and nine world championships overall.

Marquez is joint 11th in the all-­time GP win list having triumphed 42 times across 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. He is currently on 16 MotoGP wins and is 17th in the all-­time record books.

He was three world championships to his name ­- one each in 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP.

Lorenzo is currently equal sixth in the total grand prix victory rankings, tied with Phil Read on 52 wins, and equal sixth with Eddie Lawson on 31 top­-class triumphs.

Although the 2010 and '12 MotoGP world champion has been overshadowed by Marquez of late, Lorenzo believes he still has time to add plenty more success to his CV, having recently extended his Yamaha deal by another two years, ­taking him into the new technical rules era in 2016.

"It's important to stay in the same team for 2016 because you'll be making an evolution of the bike without your own electronics. 2016 will be a completely different year," said Lorenzo.

"I still want to end my career with Yamaha."

Follow MotoGP's British Grand Prix race day at Silverstone this weekend as it happens with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live from 11am UK time on Sunday.