Marc Marquez MotoGP titles came back into the spotlight in 2025 when he clinched the MotoGP world championship at the Japanese Grand Prix, ending a six-year wait for the title. Since his MotoGP debut in 2013 with the factory Honda team, Marquez has continuously forged his legacy, earning seven premier class titles marked by intense battles, resilience, and adaptation.
From his rookie season dominance to an extraordinary comeback in 2025, Marquez’s journey through MotoGP has witnessed highs and lows that define the sport’s modern era. This article ranks each of his seven world championships based on expert evaluation and racing context to reveal the true impact of his MotoGP career.
Challenging Rivalries and Mental Tension Mark the 2017 Title Campaign
The 2017 season stands out as one of Marc Marquez’s most grueling experiences in MotoGP, earning a 38 out of 50 from expert reviewers. Jordan Moreland, Crash Social Media Manager, noted the intense pressure Marquez faced, with Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso emerging as a late-season rival Marquez had not anticipated. Despite a troubled start with crashes and technical struggles on a Honda machine that failed to improve significantly from 2016, Marquez’s perseverance shone through.
Sustaining multiple crashes—including a memorable stumble over a starter motor in the pit-lane—and combatting fierce challenges from rivals made this season particularly strained. Marquez’s defining moments included a wet-weather masterclass victory at Misano, where he outpaced Danilo Petrucci, and a triumphant finish at Phillip Island as Dovizioso faltered.
The intense title battle culminated dramatically at Valencia, where Marquez executed what many call “the Save of the championship,” an iconic moment demonstrating his extraordinary skill and resolve.
“It was labelled the ‘Save of the championship’ and a moment that defined the unbelievable talent he possessed.”
– Jordan Moreland, Crash Social Media Manager
Overall, Marquez secured six wins that season, equal to Dovizioso’s tally, reinforcing the grueling effort and clutch performances needed to claim the crown.
Adaptability Defines Marquez’s 2016 Title Amid Regulatory Changes
In the 2016 season, rated 39.5 out of 50, Marc Marquez demonstrated a masterclass in adaptability under challenging new MotoGP technical regulations. Alex Whitworth, a respected MotoGP journalist, highlighted that this title was won in a year when Honda struggled with the transition to unified electronics and a change from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres, making bike performance unpredictable.
This season tested Marquez’s maturity, contrasting his 2015 campaign marked by several crashes. In 2016, Marquez crashed only twice and displayed greater consistency with just one race finish outside the top five before clinching the title in Japan. The Honda RC213V remained difficult to handle, as the engine was still of the older ‘screamer’ design, awaiting a ‘big bang’ V4 introduction the following year.
The Dutch TT was emblematic of his growth, where a second-place finish behind Jack Miller felt like a victory—signifying that maintaining steady top results outweighed outright race wins that season.
“The timing of this maturation meant that he was able to win even with a bike that was difficult to master and fundamentally unsuitable to the new regulations.”
– Alex Whitworth, Journalist
Marquez’s 2016 success solidified his reputation not only as a fastest rider but as one capable of adapting, controlling risk, and overcoming equipment limitations.
Shoulder Injury and Mid-Season Dominance Mark 2018 Championship
The 2018 season, scoring 40.5 out of 50, exposed the contrasting pressures and dominance in Marc Marquez’s career. Peter McLaren, Crash MotoGP Editor, underlined how Marquez started behind rivals including Andrea Dovizioso but quickly asserted control. Early setbacks such as defeat in Qatar and a contentious clash with Valentino Rossi in Argentina did little to derail his momentum.
Remarkably, Marquez carried a secret shoulder injury from a training crash throughout the season, yet still achieved nine wins and fourteen podiums from eighteen races, finishing the championship 76 points clear of Dovizioso.
His dominance was particularly evident within Honda’s RC213V riders, with Marquez vastly outpacing teammates Cal Crutchlow and Dani Pedrosa. Crutchlow claimed a solitary win and placed seventh overall, while Pedrosa struggled to a distant eleventh.
“While Marquez celebrated nine wins and 14 podiums from 18 rounds, LCR’s Cal Crutchlow was closest with a single victory, three rostrums and seventh in the world championship.”
– Peter McLaren, Crash MotoGP Editor
This season underscored Marquez’s resilience and superior racecraft, even when physically compromised.
A Rookie Legend Emerges with an Intense 2013 Title Fight
Marquez’s first premier class title in 2013, given a 42 out of 50 rating, is remembered as a defining moment that introduced a new force to MotoGP. Derry Munikartono, Crash Indonesia Editor, described how Marquez, as a rookie, faced immense pressure racing against seasoned champion Jorge Lorenzo. The championship remained tightly contested until the very final race in Valencia, with only four points separating them.
Marquez was on course to claim the title early but suffered a setback due to a Honda strategy error that caused his disqualification in Australia. Despite this, his poise and competitive courage allowed him to withstand challenges and claim the championship.
“To be pushed to the wire by an experienced champion in Lorenzo would be enough to crumble any rookie. But Marquez proved to be a different class.”
– Derry Munikartono, Crash Indonesia Editor
This breakthrough season marked the birth of a legend in premier class motorcycle racing.
Unmatched Winning Streak Defines the 2014 Championship Season
Marc Marquez’s sophomore season in 2014 is considered one of the most dominant campaigns in MotoGP history, earning a 43.5 out of 50 score. Lewis Duncan, Senior Journalist, emphasized the historic nature of Marquez winning the first 10 consecutive races and achieving 13 total victories, setting a record at the time.
This season was distinguished not only by Marquez’s pace but also by diminishing threats from rivals: Jorge Lorenzo endured a troubled campaign while Valentino Rossi was rebuilding towards competitiveness. Dani Pedrosa’s battle with arm pump further weakened Honda’s internal challenge to Marquez’s supremacy.
“The 2014 campaign goes hand in hand with 2019 and 2025 for years where Marquez really did have no equal.”
– Lewis Duncan, Senior Journalist
Marquez’s control of the grid this year displayed the vast potential of his youth and talent, setting a benchmark few have surpassed since.
Dominating the End of the Decade: The 2019 Championship Campaign
The 2019 season is rated 46 out of 50 and represents the peak of Marquez’s competitive dominance before injury struck. Editor Peter McLaren recalled how Marquez achieved 12 wins and a staggering 151-point margin over runner-up Andrea Dovizioso, highlighting a level of control rare in MotoGP.
Aside from a single slip at the Circuit of the Americas, Marquez finished first or second in 18 of 19 races, showcasing consistency and tactical maturity. No other Honda rider won a race that season, and Marquez kept a massive points gap over teammates like Cal Crutchlow and Jorge Lorenzo—the latter experiencing a surprisingly poor final season in 2019.
“Almost single-handedly, Marquez delivered Honda the triple crown of riders’, teams’ and constructors’ championships and seemed unstoppable… Until Jerez 2020.”
– Peter McLaren, Editor
This campaign cemented Marquez as MotoGP’s dominant force at the end of the 2010s, raising expectations for future achievements.
An Unprecedented Comeback Seals the 2025 MotoGP Title
Marc Marquez’s 2025 championship stands as arguably the most remarkable achievement of his career, rated 49 out of 50 by MotoGP experts. Lewis Duncan highlighted the extraordinary nature of this comeback, coming after severe injury setbacks and multiple surgeries that sidelined him from 2020 onward.
Leaving the Honda team where he rose to prominence, Marquez accepted a free ride with Gresini in 2024 just to prove he retained his speed. His triumph in 2025 aboard a relatively new Ducati setup, with 11 race wins and 14 sprint victories, demonstrated not only physical recovery but an evolved racing mind and unyielding determination.
Marquez became both the youngest and oldest champion in MotoGP’s modern era, a feat unmatched by other riders. Given the years lost to injury, his ability to secure the title earlier than ever before on the calendar underlines the magnitude of this sporting comeback.
“No rider in MotoGP history has gone as long between titles, with Marquez now the youngest and the oldest in the modern era to be a champion.”
– Lewis Duncan, Journalist
This title not only rewrote record books but reinforced Marquez’s status as one of the greatest figures in motorcycle racing history, making his journey a symbol of resilience and unwavering ambition.
