Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez finds himself in the best possible position to win a seventh MotoGP title in 2025 as he becomes a factory Ducati rider.
The Spaniard joined the manufacturer’s satellite team Gresini in 2024 after leaving Honda. Marquez won his six MotoGP championships with the Japanese manufacturer between 2013 and 2019.
After enduring a difficult end to his time with Honda, the 31-year-old joined Gresini last year. Marquez enjoyed immediate success as he finished third in the standings with three wins and 10 podiums.
The 2024 champion Jorge Martin was meant to land the second factory Ducati seat next to Francesco Bagnaia. But the team opted to sign Marquez, with Martin heading to Aprilia alongside Marco Bezzecchi.
The six-time champion’s move to Ducati was arguably the biggest move in the rider market in 2024. Ducati fans clamoured to see Marquez in red as the team unveiled their 2025 bike on Monday.
After the Bologna-based outfit’s dominance in 2024, Marquez comes into this season as one of the favourites to win the championship. But his answer to the question of his 2025 targets suggests he fears other riders on the grid.
What was surprising about Marc Marquez’s answer about his 2025 targets
Marquez ‘tried quite hard’ not to say he is a title contender in the 2025 season. The Spaniard insisted that a top three finish was his main target at Ducati.
This may be just the ease the pressure off his shoulders that comes with racing with the works Ducati team. But journalist Val Khourounzhiy has questioned Marquez’s answer as he potentially sees himself finishing third.
With Bagnaia being the favourite for the championship, Khorounzhiy cannot think of another name who would finish second ahead of Marquez and he considers it a good season.
“I don’t really believe that. I would like to ask specifically if your aim is top three and you envision yourself potentially finishing third,” he said via The Race MotoGP Podcast.
“Even if, I think he clarified it to Spanish media as being, top three means you’ve been in the title battle. I don’t think that’s always true. I don’t think that’s true every year but let’s assume it is.
“I’d like to know who he envisions as being second in that case. I don’t know, I can’t really think of an acceptable name to finish second that Marc could finish third to and go: ‘Well that’s been a good season”.
Why Marc Marquez should fear Pedro Acosta in 2025
When talking about Marquez finishing third in 2025, most would put his teammate Bagnaia as the champion. After all, he won 11 races last season.
Martin is the obvious choice to put second ahead of Marquez. However, the defending champion has joined Aprilia who have an inferior bike to Ducati – with Martin admitting he cannot win the title in 2025.
Fabio Di Giannantonio will have the GP25 spec alongside Bagnaia and Marquez at Gresini this year, but he is recovering from a long-term injury. There is doubt as to whether Franco Morbidelli, Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer could compete for the title.
Among the other riders on the MotoGP grid, Pedro Acosta stands out as the most likely to beat Marquez. The 20-year-old sensation finished sixth in his rookie year last season with five podiums.
There will be doubt surrounding the Spaniard’s season given KTM’s desperate financial crisis. The company is in self-administration and is at risk of closing its doors if they cannot find investment.
But it is clear Acosta is a special talent and he is more than capable of fighting at the front. Aleix Espargaro is tipping Acosta to be in contention for the championship in 2025 and he will give Marquez and Ducati a headache – providing KTM’s issues do not affect the motorsport division.
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