Marco Bezzecchi
Honda were at the top of MotoGP in the 2010s as Marc Marquez dominated the field with six titles. But their dynasty came to a grinding halt in 2020.
The Japanese giants became the team to beat when the Ant of Cervera arrived on the scene in 2013. No one expected Marquez to win the title in his debut season, but that is exactly what he did, beating legendary names such as Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa.
As the 2010s came to an end, Honda’s RC213V was beginning to regress. Even though it was not the fastest bike on the grid anymore, Marquez still used it to claim six MotoGP championships between 2013 and 2019.
The manufacturer’s regression was clear to see in 2019, despite Marquez finishing in the top two in all but one race that year. The next highest Honda rider in the standings was Cal Crutchlow in ninth, while the Spaniard’s teammate Lorenzo was down in 19th in what was his final season.
It was clear that Marquez was the only rider who could extract top results from the RC213V. In 2020, disaster struck as Honda lost the then six-time MotoGP champion to injury.
Jorge Lorenzo says Honda would have built a ‘better bike every year’ if Marc Marquez was not injured in 2020
Marquez highsided at the season opener at Jerez, fracturing the humerus bone in his right arm. He tried to return at the following race, but he ended up aggravating the injury.
Marquez’s physio regrets not forcing him to stop and recover properly from his injury. The Spaniard missed the entire 2020 season before returning the following year, when he would struggle with further injury setbacks and Honda’s regression.
Marquez finished 14th in 2023, his worst season in MotoGP, before deciding to leave Honda for Gresini. While he has gone on to return to the top of the sport with Ducati, Lorenzo feels things could have worked out a lot differently.
Speaking via Diario AS on a documentary about Marquez, his ex-Honda teammate thinks the Japanese giants would not have regressed if he had not been injured in 2020.
“A stroke of bad luck can change the course of your life. And that fall in Jerez in 2020 completely cut short Marquez’s career, because I’m sure that if he had won, another world title, he was far superior to the others,” said Lorenzo.
“And Honda would have entered that decline in performance, having Márquez there with them, explaining to them those little details to do to continue making a better bike every year. That lack of Marquez for a couple of years meant that Honda lost a little bit.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend
Honda are beginning to rebuild to the top of MotoGP
Alex Marquez convinced Marc Marquez to join Ducati, as he was enjoying better success than he did at Honda. The 32-year-old followed his brother to Gresini, a decision that would lead him to his seventh MotoGP title in 2025.
Meanwhile, Honda have been trying to rebuild their project and get back to the front. They finished last in 2024 but have been making steady progress in 2025.
Johann Zarco claimed victory at Le Mans, marking Honda’s first win since 2023. The manufacturer are beginning to close in on the frontrunners, with Joan Mir scoring a podium at Motegi.
Luca Marini has surprised Honda behind the scenes with his work ethic. The Italian is looking to guide the team forward in 2026 and challenge Ducati.
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