Jorge Lorenzo has weighed in on MotoGP’s ongoing discussion about fan hostility, recalling the intense backlash he received from Valentino Rossi’s supporters—even in his home country of Spain.
The incident occurred at the climax of the controversial 2015 MotoGP season. Lorenzo clinched the championship in Valencia after a final-round victory, but the triumph was overshadowed by the notorious feud between Rossi and Marc Marquez, which divided fans across the sport.
“Marquez and I arrived at parc fermé, and 80% of the Spanish public was booing us because they were Rossistas [Rossi supporters],” Lorenzo recounted to AS.
The animosity didn’t stop at the track. Lorenzo revealed that during his family’s celebration later that evening, a group of about 50 fans confronted them, hurling insults and accusing him of stealing the championship.
“They were Spanish and Rossistas,” Lorenzo said, emphasizing the divisiveness of that era. “When I was Rossi’s rival, the fans were very divided. I would say the rivalry felt like football, like Real Madrid versus FC Barcelona. The 2015 season was super dramatic, full of emotions and rivalries.”
Lorenzo, Rossi’s Yamaha teammate at the time, ultimately secured the championship—the second of his career—by overcoming significant adversity.
“It is the title of which I feel most proud,” Lorenzo admitted. “I didn’t lead the championship in any race until the last one. I really suffered and fought until the end because I had a lot of bad luck that year. But I didn’t throw in the towel.”
Echoes of the Past in Today’s MotoGP
The tensions of 2015 continue to cast a shadow over MotoGP. Earlier this year, Marquez, now riding for Ducati, faced boos while on the podium at Misano in Italy, a clear reminder of his historic rivalry with Rossi.
In response to the incident, reigning world champion Pecco Bagnaia attempted to quell booing and later criticized such fan behavior. Marquez publicly thanked Bagnaia for his support, highlighting the lingering effects of the divisive 2015 season.
While MotoGP has evolved since those fiery days, Lorenzo’s reflections underline how past rivalries and fan allegiances still influence the sport’s atmosphere.
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