Beginning in 2025, Dorna—the entity responsible for MotoGP‘s management—has decided to prioritize achievements in the MotoGP premier class over titles in lower racing categories. This move aims to elevate the MotoGP brand’s stature, enhance its global recognition, and grow its audience, especially in regions where the sport remains less popular. Although many credit Liberty Media for this shift, it was actually conceived within Dorna’s offices early in the year, prior to Liberty Media finalizing its acquisition of the sport’s commercial rights.
As part of this transformation, a redesign of the series’ logo at the end of the previous year placed the word “MotoGP” at the center of the championship’s identity. Subsequently, all premier-class statistics were unified, integrating records from both the historic 500cc era and the current MotoGP era beginning in 2002.
Clarifying the New Title Counting System
Championship organizers have confirmed that from this season onward, the emphasis has been on counting only MotoGP-specific world titles rather than combining them with championships from other categories. According to sources close to the organizer,
“Starting this year – and it was a decision made before the end of the season, meaning it has nothing to do with the possibility of Marquez winning the title – the world championship organiser has started counting MotoGP titles and talking more and more about MotoGP, instead of the other categories,”
They added,
“In that sense, what we will celebrate in Motegi if Marquez manages to close out the championship will be his seventh MotoGP world title. That also means that we have started using ‘MotoGP’ instead of ‘premier class’ or 500cc/MotoGP.”
Debate Over Counting Multiple Category Titles
The controversy has arisen primarily because many riders have earned world championships across different divisions. Riders like Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Francesco Bagnaia, and Marc Marquez himself have amassed titles in MotoGP as well as in lower displacement classes. For example, Rossi holds seven premier class titles plus two in smaller categories, while Marquez currently has six MotoGP crowns alongside one Moto2 and one 125cc championship.
This current season presents Marquez with a strong chance to secure another premier-class championship, bringing his total world titles across all categories to nine, which would tie him with Rossi’s overall count. Fans have passionately debated whether Marquez should be recognized as tying Rossi’s record of nine total world titles or instead be credited with only seven MotoGP titles under the new counting system.
However, those familiar with the matter emphasize that this debate does not diminish Marquez’s accomplishments. It is clear that the Spaniard will be credited with nine world championships overall, while also marking his seventh specifically in the MotoGP class.
Dorna’s Position on Title Recognition and Rider Legacy
Inside Dorna, the position has been openly communicated to Marquez, who fully understands the reasoning behind the decision. Sources shared,
“This issue has been discussed with Marc, and he understands it perfectly. We’re going to celebrate and help him celebrate his seventh MotoGP title, but no one is going to take the other two championships away from him.”
They further clarified the recognition of historic MotoGP legends, stating,
“Giacomo Agostini will be an eight-time MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez will be a seven-time MotoGP champion, Valentino Rossi will be a seven-time MotoGP champion, and Mick Doohan will be a five-time MotoGP champion.”
At the same time, the officials reaffirmed,
“But of course, no one is going to take any title away from anyone. Agostini is, first of all, an eight-time MotoGP champion, but of course, he’s still a 15-time world champion.”
Marc Marquez’s Perspective on Achievements and Legacy
Before the Japanese Grand Prix, Marquez expressed a thoughtful attitude towards his legacy, prioritizing respect and impact over raw numbers. Drawing a parallel to football icon Lionel Messi’s immeasurable influence despite the number of Ballon d’Or awards, Marquez remarked,
“I’m a big Barcelona fan, but I don’t remember how many Ballon d’Or awards Messi has, though I do know what he has meant for football,”
Regarding whether he would celebrate with a ‘seven’—denoting his MotoGP titles as requested by Dorna—or a ‘nine,’ representing his total world championships, Marquez remained diplomatic, saying,
“It’s not in my hands. Of course, the numbers matter a lot, but the most important [thing] is that the people remember me as I give everything on track.”
“They are not in my hands, but the most important [thing] is to increase those numbers. It doesn’t matter how.”
The Broader Impact of Reframing MotoGP Achievements
This redefinition of title counting reflects a broader strategy by Dorna to sharpen the focus on MotoGP as its premier motorcycle racing series, potentially enhancing its marketing appeal and audience engagement worldwide. Recognizing motorcycle racing legends within a consistent framework may reshape public perception of records and achievements, encouraging fans to appreciate achievements within the premier class distinctly.
While this approach has met some resistance among fans and observers, it also opens a pathway for clearer and more unified historical statistics. The discussions involving Marc Marquez underscore the delicate balance between honoring total career accomplishments and emphasizing premier-class successes as the sport evolves.
