Marc Marquez clinched his ninth MotoGP world championship with a strong second-place finish behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix held at Motegi. This milestone victory came with five races remaining in the season, highlighting Marquez’s dominance and resilience following a long and challenging recovery.
The Remarkable Journey Back After Severe Injury
Marquez’s achievement is widely regarded as one of the most extraordinary comebacks in sports history, considering the severe arm injury he sustained at Jerez in 2020. The injury required four major surgeries, sidelining him from racing for extended periods and forcing him to miss multiple races over several seasons. His retirement seemed possible during these difficult times, until a determined return brought him back to championship contention.
Placing Among MotoGP Greats with Nine Titles
With this latest title, Marquez now holds seven premier-class championships, including six titles won with Honda during the 2010s. His total of nine world championships puts him on par with the legendary Valentino Rossi and just one behind Giacomo Agostini’s all-time record. This elevates Marquez firmly into the upper echelons of motorcycle racing history.
Praise from Fellow Riders Highlights Marquez’s Legacy
Fabio Quartararo, who battled Marquez in seasons past, called him “a legend” and applauded his perseverance amid the long recovery and team changes. The Yamaha rider shared his admiration:
“More than an athlete, he’s a legend now,”
Quartararo stated.
He added, “Looking at the video [shown by Dorna after the race] when he was celebrating, even I had emotions. Looking at what he had from 2020, with the injury, the bets that he had from changing teams, and what he achieved this year, especially with that domination, it was amazing.
“I’m super happy for him, because he had some tough times, and he really deserves what he’s doing now.”
Marquez’s compatriot Pedro Acosta from KTM, recognized as a rising star expected to follow Marquez’s path, also paid tribute to the veteran’s recovery journey. He commented on the significance of Marquez’s return to the highest level of competition:
“I really want to congratulate him and all his close circle,”
Acosta said.
“Like I said in Barcelona, it was the biggest comeback of a sportsman in the sports world.
“Even I was emotional with the video that they put to him. I imagine how much he was struggling with his injury at home.
“I also read that he was losing like 30 races during his injury, until coming back at Ducati, for this.
“Top job for him, top job for Ducati. He was really clever, stopping with Honda, going to Ducati, playing the game to go to factory Ducati for this. He should be proud of what he did, maybe even more than with the last eight titles before.”
Meanwhile, Tech3 KTM’s Maverick Vinales referred to Marquez as a role model for his determination and success. He emphasized the difficulty of Marquez’s struggle to return to form, saying:
“After many years [being] injured, to arrive, to build, last year at Gresini and this year winning the official bike and fighting head-to-head with [Francesco] Bagnaia and beating him. It’s incredible, a reference and a role model.”
The Hidden Trials Behind Marquez’s Comeback
Marquez’s crash at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix resulted in a forced absence for the rest of that season after a failed comeback attempt soon after surgery. His recovery extended into 2021, 2022, and 2023, during which he faced ongoing challenges including surgery complications and issues with double vision. Throughout this period, few fully understood the severity of his ordeal, including his closest supporters.
His brother, Alex Marquez, a fellow MotoGP rider, revealed the private struggles Marc endured, some of which were unknown even to those closest to him. Alex commented on his brother’s perseverance:
“He’s the one on the bike, he’s the one who’s been through it all. Those of us around him don’t know exactly what he’s been through,”
he explained.
“All of us around him, my parents, Jose [Luis Martinez], me, we were partners in many things that he doesn’t know about because those were difficult times.
“But he’s the one who earned it, he worked hard for it, he was better than anyone else this year.
“I knew it when people doubted him, I knew he wasn’t finished, he just needed the weapons to fight again.
“After everything that had happened, getting to appreciate a new team, a small one like Gresini, was important for him. His plan worked out and was executed perfectly.”
Teammate Bagnaia Honors Marquez’s Mental Strength
Francesco Bagnaia, Marquez’s Ducati teammate who won the Japanese Grand Prix, expressed deep respect for Marquez’s remarkable performance and resilience over the past six years. He described Marquez’s season and comeback as beyond words, applauding his strength and determination to overcome adversity.
Significance and Future Prospects in MotoGP
This extraordinary victory not only adds to Marquez’s legacy as one of MotoGP’s greatest riders but also symbolizes a triumph of will and dedication over physical setbacks. His strategic decision to switch teams to Ducati played a crucial role, allowing him to regain his competitive edge. The wider MotoGP community now watches with anticipation to see if Marquez can extend his record and continue to shape the sport’s future while inspiring upcoming talents like Pedro Acosta.
