Why Ducati director still finds it ‘hard to say’ that Marc Marquez is the team’s best rider ever

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Marc Marquez added another 37 points to his championship lead with his latest win at the Czech Grand Prix last weekend. His lead over brother Alex now stands at an enormous 120.

Even if he doesn’t manage to extend that advantage further, Marquez would win the title in Australia on 19 October. He would still have three races in hand.

But in reality, Marquez should now be chasing more records after becoming the first Ducati rider ever to win five straight races. Including Sprints, it’s 10 in a row.

The Spaniard ‘only’ won three of the first seven races this year, but has now found another level on the GP25. Even when he misses out on pole position or falls back at the start – as he did at Brno – victory feels like an inevitability.

Mauro Grassilli says it’s difficult to compare Marc Marquez to past Ducati riders

While Francesco Bagnaia is struggling relative to Marquez, Ducati are predictably cruising to the fifth MotoGP championship in their history. Their advantage over Gresini stands at 236 points.

Marquez will almost certainly become the third Ducati factory rider to win the championship in the Grand Prix era after Bagnaia (2022, 2023) and Casey Stoner (2007).

But speaking to MARCA, the Borgo Panigale outfit’s sporting director, Mauro Grassilli, stopped short of calling Marquez their greatest-ever rider. He says it’s too ‘difficult’ to compare riders from different eras.

By the time Marquez’s Ducati contract expires at the end of 2026, he will hope to be an eight-time premier-class champion. That will equal the record set by Giacomo Agostini.

“It’s always difficult to say who the best Ducati rider is, because each championship, each year, is different,” Grassilli said. “It’s difficult to compare years and competitors.

“That’s why it’s hard for me to say that he’s the best Ducati rider. I can say, without a doubt, that this year he’s the best Ducati rider, but I can’t say more than that.”

Marc Marquez’s ‘honest’ answer on the MotoGP title race after Czech Grand Prix win

Alex Marquez says it’s ‘impossible’ to catch his brother after events in the Czech Republic. He failed to score a point for the first time all season, crashing out of the race after contact with Joan Mir.

Even if Marc were to miss a few races through injury, there’s no guarantee he’d be caught. With eight wins, he’s the only rider to take multiple victories this season.

The 32-year-old has spent the year trying to play down expectations in the media. But on Sunday, even Marquez admitted the title is his to lose.

He refused to be drawn on the prospect of sealing the championship on Valentino Rossi’s ‘home’ turf at Misano. There will still be six races remaining at that point.