Lorenzo: I'll be back in the paddock…

Jorge Lorenzo may have retired from MotoGP, but the five-time world champion has revealed he will be back in the paddock again.

During an interview with Red Bull's ServusTV, the Spanish star, who called an end to his career after a punishing debut season at Repsol Honda, declared:

"I will definitely be in the paddock again. There will be something that I can announce soon.

"If you have the chance to live [in the MotoGP world] without pressure, then you are happy to take it..."

Test riding? TV work? Rider management? We'll have to wait and see exactly what the future holds for the 68-time grand prix winner. The terms of Lorenzo's early HRC exit probably mean he will become a 'free agent' after December 31st and the Spaniard recently making his final official appearance for Honda at an event in Japan (see below):

Lorenzo raced for Yamaha, Ducati and Honda during his premier-class career, beginning with nine-years on an M1 where he took 44 wins and three MotoGP titles while competing against the likes of fellow champions Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Marc Marquez.

"Obviously we have a really special relationship with Jorge because we were together for nine years, which was extraordinary, very unusual I think for a brand to have nine years of uninterrupted contract with a rider," said Yamaha Racing managing director Lin Jarvis.

"He joined us when he was very, very young by showing his talent and his promise [in 250cc]. Then he arrived [in MotoGP] with a bang, got three pole positions and won his third race with us and went on to win three world championships.

"I think he's had a fabulous career and I was really happy with his [retirement] press conference because so many people turned out and I think it was due respect that was shown towards him.

"I think honestly the way he handled the press conference was superb and I think it showed how Jorge has also matured as a person in his engagement here in the sport.

"I remember when he first arrived with us he had some puppy fat [on his cheeks]! Just a young guy. And now you see him as being a very mature, skilled athlete that has had a fabulous career.

"So we really look back on his time with us with great fondness and he's also the guy that brought our last three championships."

Lorenzo then switched to Ducati for 2017 where, after being overshadowed by team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in his debut season on the Desmosedici, the #99 took three race wins in 2018… but only after he had agreed the ill-fated move to Repsol Honda.

"Jorge was with us only two years and honestly when we had Jorge the target was to try to win the championship with him in 2017, which didn't happen," said Ducati's Paolo Ciabatti.

"Actually it was the opposite, we managed to win six races with Andrea Dovizioso and challenge Marquez until the last round in Valencia, while Jorge was having a very difficult time.

"But the thing is that he never lost confidence in the fact that he could succeed and obviously we also did not lose any confidence in him, because we kept working on trying to make changes which in the end improved the bike also for all the other riders.

"We came to the point when actually the bike was made a little bit easier for his riding style. But he's very precise, so he's very demanding and our engineers had to work day and night to put together a bike that was suitable for his riding style.

"Then, when this happened - ironically in Mugello where basically we had decided to part ways for the following year - he was really one of the fastest riders. He won in Mugello in a fantastic way, he won in Barcelona two weeks later and then in Austria.

"I think he could have won more races but unfortunately he had the accident in Aragon and then a worst accident in Thailand.

"He is a great guy. He is maybe a controversial character in the paddock but by knowing him very well he is really a great person, a person with a big heart and we have very good memories of him and wish him the best for his future."

Suzuki's Davide Brivio offered another perspective on Lorenzo, having run Valentino Rossi's side of the factory Yamaha garage when the pair were 'team-mates' but very much rivals from 2008-2010.

"I didn't work so much for him, we were in the same Yamaha team but at that time the team was kind of more rivals than team-mates!" Brivio confirmed. "Having Valentino Rossi as a team-mate was not easy, because the confrontation was at the highest level!

"What I have seen through the races and through the years is that Jorge was always really capable to learn. Because there were some very tough moments, sometimes losing the battle but maybe not losing twice in the same way.

"So maybe he lost a race, but he was always learning and improving for the next time. This was quite impressive and what probably allowed him to achieve all his success and win the championship.

"He was very tough in difficult moments, always learning and always improving. So he deserved what he achieved and now it's a shame he's retiring but we have to respect his decision because he gave a lot.

"I think he also showed some special way to win races, I remember he was one of the first riders to lead the race by 1.3-1.4s on the first lap. Nobody was capable of this before and they had to learn, to follow, this.

"He introduced many new things in this sport and he pushed everyone else to get to that level. So I think he gave a big contribution. But he was a tough guy and there is a lot to learn from him I think."