Pedro Acosta hails Marc Marquez’s ‘brutal’ return to MotoGP in surprising Valentino Rossi comparison

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Marc Marquez has come back from his injury-ridden final years at Honda with a vengeance as he sets his sights on equalling Valentino Rossi’s tally of seven MotoGP world titles.

The Spaniard has been in stunning form during the 2025 MotoGP campaign, winning 23 out of the 28 races to have taken place so far.

Marquez has looked unbeatable in his 13th season of racing in the premier class, with the majority of times that he has lost out on a race win being due to his own mistakes.

Despite the Ant of Cervera’s sheer dominance, Pedro Acosta believes he would beat Marquez if the two were pitted against each other on equal machinery.

Ducati’s GP25 has been the dominant bike of the year, and paired with Marquez’s Casey Stoner-esque riding style, they have become a force to be reckoned with.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Pedro Acosta from net worth to girlfriend

Pedro Acosta believes Marc Marquez is now ‘on par’ with Valentino Rossi following his resurgence in MotoGP

Speaking to Spanish journalist Mela Chercoles during MotoGP’s Hungarian Grand Prix weekend via moto.it, Acosta was asked who he thinks the best rider in the history of the premier class is, to which he unsurprisingly said Valentino Rossi.

However, when posed the question of his opinion changing when Marquez undoubtedly claims his ninth world title at the end of the current campaign, Acosta changed his tune.

“When Marquez wins this championship, he’ll be sitting at the same table as Rafa Nadal, Fernando Alonso, and Pau Gasol,” Acosta said, likening him to other Spanish sporting legends.

“Aside from Michael Jordan, when he switched to baseball and then came back, I think it will be the most brutal return to sport we’ve seen in recent years. It’s not that he’s had one or two average years. He spent a whole year at home and, by pushing and pushing, he got where he wanted to be.

“Marc Marquez didn’t need to return to racing. His story was already made, but he put in more effort than anyone else, and things worked out well for him, because without him, we’re going nowhere.

“Along with Jordan and the three great Spaniards I mentioned, Marquez will be there, which is where Valentino is, who had two bad years at Ducati, but this guy had to come back from hell to win again. For me, he and Valentino are on par.”

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

Pedro Acosta has felt the benefit of having a friend as a coach on MotoGP race weekends

One of the reasons for Acosta’s recent resurgence in form over the last few rounds can be attributed to his move to employ a coach to take the strain off himself when looking for improvements in his own personal performance.

The change seems to have worked for Acosta, who has taken four podiums in the last six races, Sprints included. The Murcian rider has surprised everyone at KTM, Pol Espargaro describing Acosta as ‘supernatural’ in his abilities on two wheels.

“I have a good team around me, and a coach too: Carmelo Morales. We’re having a lot of fun, and it really helps me to see things objectively,” Acosta said.

“I’m more results-oriented, and he pays close attention to my progress and knows exactly what I struggle with the most: getting behind the curve and proceeding smoothly. He’s my friend, and he came from Aragon as a coach. He doesn’t care if I hurt him; he tells me what he needs to say.

“I was going through a rough patch, I wasn’t getting results, I was angry all day, and since I laugh a lot with him every time we go training on the bike, it’s like bringing a friend to laugh with. Seeing how he works, I’ve realised it helps me a lot because I ride more smoothly.”