Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez is a Honda legend, but the Spaniard is now writing another chapter of his MotoGP story at Ducati with the chance to become a legend with a second brand.
Few riders in the MotoGP era have forged legacies for multiple manufacturers to date, with Marquez just the third rider to win titles with more than one brand. The 32-year-old joined Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner in the exclusive group by winning the 2025 title for Ducati.
Rossi kicked off the MotoGP era by winning back-to-back titles for Honda in 2002 and 2003, before the Italian went on to win the title for Yamaha in 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2009. Stoner won his first title with Ducati in 2007 before securing his second crown with Honda in 2011.
Marquez lifted the first six of his seven MotoGP titles so far with Honda, having taken home the crown in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. But Marquez accepted that he had to leave Honda in 2023 after the Japanese crew lost their way following his arm injury in 2020.
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Marc Marquez noticed how much smaller Ducati’s MotoGP team is compared to Honda’s
Marquez’s move to Gresini in 2024 paved his path to the factory Ducati team in 2025, which would also see the Spaniard win the title in record fashion. Marquez won the 2025 MotoGP title with five rounds to spare after recording 11 Grand Prix and 14 Sprint wins in 17 rounds.
READ MORE: Marc Marquez’s first MotoGP title with Ducati was defined by five moments
Cervera native Marquez is very grateful for the work that Ducati put in behind the scenes to achieve the success he recorded in 2025. He also realised how it is the people at Ducati who make their success after noticing how much smaller their operation is compared to Honda’s.
“We’re a team,” Marquez told Gazzetta dello Sport. “In the end, I’m the one riding the bike and crossing the finish line, but behind it are many people, at the company in Bologna and at the circuit, who help make this success happen.
“That greatness is made by people. It’s important because, when it comes to the size of a company, there are much larger Japanese brands. But, at Ducati, I understood that greatness is made by people, by the people, and by the smallest details.”
Marc Marquez is turning Ducati into his team after leaving his family at Honda
Would the factory Ducati team have won the 2025 MotoGP title without Marc Marquez?
Marquez was truly a part of the family at Honda, and he helped to build that family with his loyalty to those who helped to realise his success with the Japanese squad. But his move to Gresini in 2024 meant he had to leave the family, as only mechanic Javi Ortiz went with him.
Ortiz also followed Marquez to Ducati, where the Spaniard had to build new relationships as he walked into Francesco Bagnaia’s home. Yet the Bologna Bullets are now Marquez’s home, having turned the Borgo Panigale natives into his team with his triumphs throughout 2025.
It is said that Ducati’s main priority is to agree a new contract with Marquez for 2027, as the 32-year-old only joined on a two-season deal to replace Enea Bastianini from 2025. Bagnaia could have to take a pay cut to stay at Ducati, as well, as Marquez will dictate their budget.
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