Marc Marquez secured his ninth grand prix world championship and seventh premier class MotoGP title at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, demonstrating remarkable resilience and skill throughout the season. Riding for the factory Ducati team, Marquez dominated the 2025 campaign, clinching the championship with five rounds remaining despite challenges that tested his determination and adaptability.
Early Career Crossroads: Leaving Honda to Revive His Racing Future
In October 2023, following a strong performance at a rain-soaked Japanese Grand Prix, Marquez made the decisive choice to leave Honda with one year left on his factory contract. This decision came after a traumatic crash at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix severely damaged his right arm, leading to four major surgeries. Though Marquez committed fully to regaining fitness in 2023, Honda’s bike development lagged behind his ambitions.
Marquez faced repeated crashes pushing an underperforming Honda, culminating in a disastrous German Grand Prix weekend with five falls. Testing the 2024 Honda bike at Misano offered no reassurance amid rumors of switching teams. Seeking competitive relevance instead of retirement, Marquez took a bold step by signing with Gresini Racing to ride a year-old Ducati without a salary. This ended his six-title run with Honda and marked the start of an unprecedented comeback.
Reigniting Passion and Pace with Ducati Debut
At the end of November 2023, Marquez debuted on the Gresini Ducati at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, putting aside the close title fight of that season to focus on this milestone. His quick adaptation to the bike was evident as he finished fourth quickest, flashing a hopeful smile to crew chief Frankie Carchedi— a moment that hinted at the resurgence to come.
Progress Amidst Challenges in 2024
Marquez entered the 2024 season cautiously, emphasizing rediscovering his enjoyment of racing rather than immediate championship ambitions. Early rounds vindicated his efforts as he secured sprint podiums in Portugal and the United States, though a crash while leading the grand prix in the U.S. and a sprint fall at Jerez delayed a full victory return.
Still, his podium finish at Jerez marked his first grand prix top-three since late 2023, proving his ability to contend again. By mid-year, Marquez’s pace and potential were clear, with Ducati considering him for a works bike upgrade despite intense competition within their ranks.
Summer 2024: Shaking Up Ducati’s Rider Lineup
During the 2024 summer, Ducati faced a unique conundrum with multiple top riders: Pecco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, and the increasingly impressive Marquez. Initially, Ducati planned to promote Jorge Martin to the factory team alongside Bagnaia, while Marquez would continue with a satellite team ride.
However, Marquez publicly challenged this arrangement ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, demanding a factory bike at Gresini or the works squad or threatening to sign elsewhere. Ducati’s management reversed course, leading Martin to sign with Aprilia shortly after, paving the way for Marquez to receive a factory-spec Ducati. This maneuver underscored Marquez’s enduring influence despite not yet winning on a Ducati bike.
Breaking the Winless Streak at Aragon 2024
September 2024 saw Marquez’s long awaited victory return at the Aragon Grand Prix, a venue that suited his riding style due to its resurfaced track and anticlockwise layout. Extensive dominance from pole position, sprint win, and a grand prix triumph marked his first premier class win since the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, ending a 1,043-day drought.
This victory symbolized the culmination of years of recovery efforts following his 2020 crash and signaled a new beginning for Marquez’s quest for further titles.
Testing the Factory Ducati in 2024 and Setting Title Hopes
At the November 2024 Barcelona test, Marquez rode for the first time in the iconic factory red Ducati livery. There, he evaluated the current GP24 and the upcoming GP25 prototype, finishing the day as the fourth fastest rider behind teammate Pecco Bagnaia. His positive initial impressions affirmed the promising capabilities of his new machinery and helped lay groundwork for 2025 ambitions.
Dominant 2025 Season Start and Tactical Mastery
The opening race of the 2025 season unfolded in Thailand under a cloud of uncertainty surrounding Ducati’s unchanged engine due to a two-year freeze on development. Despite doubts, Marquez qualified on pole, won the sprint, and secured the grand prix victory, showcasing a pace superior to rivals even when managing tire pressure penalties by temporarily yielding the lead to his brother Alex Marquez.
Following successive wins in Argentina, a challenging crash in America momentarily ceded the points lead to Alex Marquez, but this setback was only temporary as Marc Marquez regained momentum quickly.
Controlling the Championship: Qatar and Subsequent Races
At the Qatar Grand Prix, on a track where he had been historically less successful, Marquez defied expectations by taking pole, the sprint, and the grand prix by a commanding margin. Though he relinquished the points lead briefly after crashing in Spain, he rebounded with strong performances at the French Grand Prix, maintaining his edge amidst mixed conditions.
Silverstone Slip Sparks Strategic Revision
By May 2025, Marquez led the standings by 22 points but was burdened by past errors, particularly crashes in the United States and Jerez. Silverstone proved tricky: he suffered his first sprint defeat of the season and fell out of race lead but benefited from a prompt red flag allowing him to restart and finish third. This weekend was his only race without at least one win.
Recognizing a need for greater consistency, Marquez committed to adjusting his race-day tactics to reduce mistakes and protect his championship lead.
Renewed Confidence Drives Consecutive Doubles at Aragon and Italy
In response to his Silverstone lessons, Marquez clinched back-to-back double victories at Aragon and then the Italian Grand Prix, stretching his championship lead to 40 points over his brother Alex Marquez. Despite a tough Friday in Assen, he secured the sprint win and held off Marco Bezzecchi in the grand prix, marking his third consecutive double and substantially widening the points gap as Alex battled injuries.
Unrelenting Momentum Through Mid-Season European Rounds
Continuing the winning streak, Marquez achieved three consecutive double-header victories in Germany, Czechia, and Austria, totaling nine doubles for the season. At Balaton Park, he added a tenth double amid struggles from championship challengers Alex Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia. This surge put Marquez 175 points ahead, realistically positioning him to clinch the title as early as the San Marino Grand Prix.
San Marino Fight and Closing in on the Championship
In September 2025, Alex Marquez delayed Marc’s inevitable title win by defeating him at the Catalan Grand Prix after recovering from a sprint crash. However, Marc responded by aggressively pushing at San Marino. Despite crashing out while leading the sprint race, his victory in the grand prix that day set him 182 points clear with six rounds remaining, effectively eliminating all but his brother from the championship race.
Sealing the Comeback at the Japanese Grand Prix
At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, six years after his last world championship, Marc Marquez completed a remarkable return to MotoGP supremacy. By finishing second in both the sprint and the grand prix, he secured his seventh premier class title. This achievement not only underscored his resilience but also marked one of the sport’s greatest comebacks.
“He flashed a smile to crew chief Frankie Carchedi that ultimately set the tone for the next two years.”
– Unattributed
“For him, he either got a works bike at Gresini (not an option for Ducati) or he goes to the works team, otherwise he takes up an offer elsewhere.”
– Unattributed
