Five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo, four-time world champion Max Biaggi and four-time world champion Hugh Anderson become MotoGP legends this season, with the Spaniard being inducted into the MotoGP Legends Hall of Fame at Jerez, the Italian at Mugello and the New Zealander later in the year.
The day he announced his retirement, it was decided that Jorge Lorenzo would become a MotoGP legend this season and the Mallorcan will be the first of the three riders to be inducted in 2020. Appropriately, the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto will be the host; the place where he made his Grand Prix debut on his 15th birthday and where the last corner bears his name.
Lorenzo is one of the most successful riders of all time, claim his first win in 2003 and his 68th win in 2018. Consecutive 250cc champion in 2006 and 2007, on pole in his first MotoGP race and third victory in the premier class, Lorenzo’s greatest successes in MotoGP ushered in 2010, 2012 and 2015 he became world champion. He won these titles with Yamaha, with which he claimed 44 victories before joining Ducati in 2017. Lorenzo claimed three more jaw-dropping victories with the Italian brand before moving to Honda and later announced his retirement from the competition in late 2019.
“To be named a MotoGP Legend makes me very happy – said Jorge Lorenzo: – When I started competing in this world, I really wanted to get into the world championship. Winning races and then five world championships is something that my expectations are about and being a MotoGP legend is even harder. To be called a legend, apart from the titles, means that you have shaped the people and the history of this sport. I want to Dorna and the FIM for their support in all Thank you over the years and for including me in this special group of selected drivers. “
Max Biaggi completed his first Grand Prix outings in the 250cc class in 1991. and the Italian became a winner the very next season when he took his first win. Two years later he became a champion for the first time, and a few years later he would be complete an impressive dominance in the class when he became champions in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. He then rose to the premier class and took his first win of his rookie season and finished second overall. From his debut in the premier class in 1998 to his departure in 2005, Biaggi took 13 wins and was Three times runner-up in the championship. When he left Grand Prix racing Biaggi moved to WorldSBK and won two world championships there – 2010 and 2012 – and since retiring from the competition, he has returned to the GP paddock at the head of the Sterilgarda Max Racing Team.
“I am honored to become a MotoGP legend and I know that my name will forever be shared with other major racers like Agostini, Aspar, Nieto, Sheene … And it feels good that all of my years of hard work are today I would like to thank everyone who has decided to do me this honor. “
Hugh Anderson will be the last indue in 2020. Anderson made his first GP appearances in the 500cc and 350cc classes in 1960, in the latter a podium. Two years later he added the 125cc and 50cc classes to his résumé and won both races. That set the course for 1963 the New Zealander competed seriously in the 125cc and 50cc world championships and took the crown in each class. He retained the 50cc crown the following year to win consecutive titles and finished third in the 125cc title fight, which was reversed in 1965 when he regained the 125cc crown and finished third in the 50cc class. Anderson retired in 1966 after claiming an impressive 25 Grand Prix wins and four titles in just six years.
“How I felt when I received the news? First the concern: do my relatively modest achievements justify this honor? Will I, can I live up to this invitation? – said Hugh Anderson. A satisfaction that the modern world after all this Time has not forgotten the past and the drivers of a completely different era still have a certain value. A question of recognizing the history of our sport at the highest level. Thank you. “
Lorenzo, Biaggi and Anderson now join a long list of greats made MotoGP legends including Giacomo Agostini, Mick Doohan, Geoff Duke, Wayne Gardner, Mike Hailwood, Daijiro Kato, Eddie Lawson, Anton Mang, Angel Nieto, Wayne Rainey, Phil Read, Jim Redman, Kenny Roberts, Jarno Saarinen, Kevin Schwantz, Barry Sheene, Marco Simoncelli, Freddie Spencer, Casey Stoner, John Surtees, Carlo Ubbiali, Alex Crivillé, Franco Uncini, Marco Lucchinelli, Randy Mamola, Kork Ballington, Dani Pedrosa, Stefan Dörflinger, Jorge Martinez and the late, great Nicky Hayden.