Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo agree on Marc Marquez’s 2025 season as MotoGP title beckons

Add as preferred source on Google

Marc Marquez will likely be crowned the 2025 MotoGP champion at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix. Marquez only needs to outscore his brother Alex by three points.

Neither Alex, nor any other rider, has been able to put Marquez under any meaningful pressure this season. That’s why he has a colossal 182-point lead with six races still to go.

But Marquez will still regard this as one of his greatest triumphs. He will become the oldest MotoGP champion, six years on from his last title at Honda, but more importantly, he completes his comeback story after career-threatening injuries at the start of the decade.

Marquez has also come close to achieving perfection this year. His win rate, including Sprints, is almost 80%, and his podium rate is above 90%.

Francesco Bagnaia says Ducati teammate Marc Marquez has been ‘unbeatable’ this year

In an interview with Sky Italy ahead of the race at Motegi, Francesco Bagnaia was asked about his Ducati teammate. Bagnaia, who was expected to compete with the Spaniard for the title this year, has fallen more than 275 points behind.

The two-time world champion has fallen into a spiral this year due to his fundamental discomfort on the GP25. Seeing Marquez’s robotic dominance on the same machinery has only made it more difficult.

Bagnaia has even come to Marquez for advice, with the chasm between the two riders precluding any real rivalry. He hinted that he may not have been able to beat the Ant of Cevera even if he had been in form.

“I think there’s little to add to what he’s done this season,” he said. “He’s definitely the only rider who’s made a difference.

“Especially with the GP25: he’s the only one who could ride it at 100%. It’s been almost a championship without rivals; he’s never had anyone’s thoughts and he’s been unbeatable.”

Fabio Quartararo gives Marc Marquez ’10 out of 10′ for 2025 season

In comments shared by Speedweek, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo also weighed in on Marquez’s performances. He marvelled at his ‘incredible’ comeback.

Quartararo thinks he could take on Marquez in dry conditions, but like Bagnaia, he said that the 32-year-old had been faultless this term. The Yamaha rider has taken four pole positions, the second-most on the grid, but hasn’t had the machinery to sustain that fight in the race.

“After everything that’s happened, the injuries and the malfunctioning bike, his move to a satellite team and then to the factory team, he’s had an incredible season,” said Quartararo. “This proves how strong he is mentally and how good he is as a rider. I give him 10 out of 10 for this season.”

Yamaha are likely to be introducing a new V4 engine for next year, but aren’t expected to challenge. Aprilia and KTM are closer to catching Ducati, while Bagnaia, Alex Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio will all be riding identical GP26 equipment.