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Neil Hodgson tells 11-win rider to forget about beating Marc Marquez after he claimed he could cause him ‘problems’

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Marc Marquez has been unbeatable for the majority of the current MotoGP season, winning 21 out of a possible 26 races atop the 2025 spec Ducati GP25.

The Ant of Cervera is on a record-setting pace at the moment with the factory Ducati team, with one MotoGP rival telling Marquez to ‘calm down’ after seeing his points tally following a sixth consecutive weekend of winning both the Sprint race and Grand Prix in Austria.

Marquez’s crew chief described his 2025 campaign as ‘complete’, believing that at 32 years old, the eight-time world champion is riding at the peak of his career.

Fabio Quartararo is confident that he can cause Marquez ‘problems’ in certain race conditions, but due to the poor performance of the Yamaha bike this season, he has yet to challenge the Spanish rider for a race win.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend

Neil Hodgson believes Fabio Quartararo can’t beat Marc Marquez in ‘new talent’ claim

However, speaking on TNT Sports’ coverage of the practice session on Friday afternoon at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Neil Hodgson debunked his claims whilst talking to co-commentator Sylvain Guintoli.

“This is what we need. We need new super talents,” Guintoli began. “We need aliens, and this is what every manufacturer needs in order to beat Marc.”

Hodgson replied, “That’s a good point. The old guard aren’t going to beat Marc, no. Bagnaia isn’t beating Marc. Morbidelli, Binder, Oliveira, Marini, Fernandez and Quartararo aren’t beating Marc.

Marc Marquez of Ducati embraces Fabio Quartararo of Yamaha
Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images

“None of them are. They’re not, are they? You’re so right, Sylvain. We need the new aliens to come in. We need the sensational talents of Aldeguer and Acosta.”

Quartararo was in awe of Marquez at the last round in Austria, noting his performance in qualifying as the two former MotoGP world champions chatted during the riders’ parade before the start of the Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats

Fabio Quartararo and Yamaha had a disastrous weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix

The first race weekend after the conclusion of the summer break was one to forget for El Diablo and Yamaha. The Japanese constructor filled the last four places of the finishing riders in the Grand Prix, with Quartararo as the lead Yamaha rider in 15th.

The Frenchman currently sits in 10th place in the riders’ standings, with a second-place finish at the French Grand Prix being the only highlight for Quartararo under racing conditions.

PositionRiderTeamTime/Gap
1Marc MarquezDucati Lenovo42:11.006
15Fabio QuartararoMonster Energy Yamaha+25.256
16Alex RinsMonster Energy Yamaha+30.316
17Miguel OliveiraPramac Yamaha+34.008
18Jack MillerPramac Yamaha+37.478
Yamaha’s performance compared to Marc Marquez at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix

He has taken several pole positions; the single-lap performance of the M1 is the only positive aspect of the bike in its current iteration. It has led Quartararo to be labelled as a qualifying rider, something that the 2021 MotoGP title winner doesn’t like to hear.

With the current campaign being one of many recent seasons where the Frenchman has struggled, Quartararo has been tipped to make a Marquez-esque departure from the team. Marquez took a huge pay cut to leave Honda in favour of Ducati, something the 26-year-old may do soon.