MotoGP Rider of the Year: 4th – Jorge Lorenzo

After another epic season of racing, MCN’s sports team of Michael Guy (Sports Editor), Simon Patterson (MotoGP Reporter) and Oli Rushby (Superbike Reporter) sat down to discuss who impressed them the most in each race series we cover to establish MCN’s top five riders in each category.

And with this year’s MotoGP championship another close-fought affair every weekend even as Marc Marquez romped to title victory, it wasn’t an easy call to decide who deserved what spot in our top five riders of the year in the class. Here’s what we think –  but feel free to disagree with us in the comments!

Fourth: Jorge Lorenzo

2018 wasn’t the easiest year for Jorge Lorenzo as he battled not only injury and adaption woes on his second year on the Ducati – but despite that, the five-time world champion showed that he’s still got the pace it takes to win by delivering some outstanding performances on the Desmosedici.

Finally getting the modifications he wanted from the Italian firm, he repaid them in style by taking impressive victories at home for both bike and rider in Mugello and Barcelona, before backing it up with an incredible last-lap win over Marc Marquez at Austria too.

Unfortunately cut short just as he got going when a mechanical problem launched him from the bike and broke his wrist in Thailand, the Spaniard was denied the chance to both defend a strong championship position and to win more races as he heads off for his new Honda adventure in 2019.