From unsettling Rossi to back of the grid ignominy
Jorge Lorenzo will be leaving MotoGP at the end of a terrible season - one that does his achievements no justice. Here is the story of his career decline, and why he should be remembered for his highs
On the Thursday of the Valencia Grand Prix, Jorge Lorenzo announced he will call time on his MotoGP career at the end of his toughest year as a motorcycle racer.
As Honda team-mate Marc Marquez recently said, it was "unimaginable" to think Lorenzo would be in the position he has been in this year. Almost prophetically, Marquez added it was just as "unimaginable" that this could continue into 2020.
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Lewis Duncan is Autosport's International Editor and primary motorcycle racing reporter. A motorsport fan from a young age, Lewis became interested in journalism when he won the star letter competition in the February 2012 issue of F1 Racing Magazine. A member of the Autosport Academy from 2017, Lewis became a freelance motorcycle racing correspondent for Autosport in 2019 before becoming a full-time staffer in 2020 as International Editor.
While MotoGP coverage is his priority, Lewis also covers World Superbikes and road racing across the Motorsport Network, and hosts the Tank Slappers Podcast. He has also occasionally commentated on 750 Motor Club meetings. Away from motorsport, Lewis is a keen record collector with a collection unashamedly largely featuring Iron Maiden and Rush and an avid guitar player.
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