Jorge Lorenzo's🤡 retirement at the end of last season means the MotoGP 𒊎grid has lost the only rider other than Marc Marquez to win a world title since 2012.

That came during a thrilling and at times controversial 2015 campaign, which also saw Lorenzo's Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi finish ahead ofꦑ the Repsol Honda rider in the final standings.

But it's the only blip in an otherwise perꦚ🍒fect title run by Marquez.

"Obviously Marc is the favourite [this season] beca🅰use he's the r🦩eigning champion and he's won six from seven," Lorenzo told the official MotoGP website. "But he's not unbeatable.

"I did it in 2015. Dovizioso nearly did it in 2017, when nobody expected it. And Fabio🧔 [Quartararo]༺ in his rookie season was fighting with him in many races last year.

"That means if Mꦐarc and Honda have some issue𝐆s, some problems, the other riders and factories can beat them."

Marquez&nbs♈p;and Honda have face💜d both physical (shoulder surgery) and technical (aerodynamics) issues since the end of last season.

But Lorenzo - left firmly in Marquez's shadow during an injury-li🌼ttered 2019 season at Repsol Honda - warned it will still be a fearsome task to topple the #93.

"Nobody has won in their rookie season and then gone on to win six from seven," L🎃orenzo, now a Yamaha test rider, said of Marquez. "He's an unbeliﷺevable natural talent and he's ambitious and not afraid to crash.

"But like any sportsman in the world, they have their weak poin🥂ts and it's not only about the rider, it's about the bike.

"I also believe ther𝓀e are other very talented riders in MotoGP. Obviou🦩sly, it's the highest class in the motorcycling world, so they are the best of the best."

If Marquez can defend his crown during the shortened 2💎020 campaign he will join Roౠssi as a seven-time premier-class champion, with only Giacomo Agostini (eight) then having more titles.