Marc Marquez thinks Valentino Rossi's MotoGP revival was incredible

Rossi was second to Marquez in this year's championship, winning two races along the way in his most successful campaign since claiming the 2009 title.

His 2010 season was disrupted by a broken leg, and he then had an uncompetitive two-year stint with Ducati before a return to Yamaha that began inconclusively, but he made an emphatic return to form this season.

"It's incredible," said Marquez of Rossi's 2014 resurgence.

"At 35 years old it's one thing, but for me the most important is that after two years at Ducati that were not so good, he came back to Yamaha and last year was not so good, but this year showed how strong he is as a rider.

"When you pass three or four years without such good results, it's difficult to come back. And he's come back really strongly.

"In Malaysia, with 35 degrees heat, he was pushing me until the last three laps.

"I respect him a lot, I'll always say it. I'd like to be like him in the future, but it will be really difficult."

Rossi's Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo said he was also taken aback by how the Italian had responded to his tough years, and particularly to being outpaced in their intra-team battle in 2013.

"Knowing that when you have a strong team-mate, that he's faster than you, it's very difficult to keep believing very strongly in yourself and trying to beat this guy," said Lorenzo.

"Some guys in the past when their team-mate was faster, they got worse and worse.

"Valentino was the opposite. He became better and better, and now for me it's very, very difficult to beat him - he's maybe too strong! I'd like him to be a little bit less strong."

Lorenzo added that Rossi's work rate in 2014 as he tried to revitalise his career had been extraordinary.

"After three years that weren't so good, especially the two years at Ducati, he came back so strong and improved his riding - working more, both physically and also in the pit, working for many hours trying to improve his bike and the settings," he said.