Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez’s return to greatness in 2025 has earned him sporting royalty status in Spain, and fellow legend Rafael Nadal has shared the differences he now sees in the MotoGP star.
History was made in 2025 when Marc Marquez crossed the finish line at the Japanese Grand Prix in September.
The Spaniard had finally claimed his seventh premier class title after six long years, breaking numerous records in the process.
Marquez’s feat marked the longest gap between titles in MotoGP history (2,184 days), and also became the oldest champion of the sport’s four-stroke era, smashing Valentino Rossi’s previous record that he set at 30 years old.
What’s more, Marquez achieved a historic title during his very first season on factory Ducati machinery after spending a season on the older-spec GP23 in 2024.
- READ MORE: Marc Marquez confidante pinpoints the exact moment he realised MotoGP legend wasn’t finished
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Rafael Nadal praises the mindset shift he has seen Marc Marquez make since recovering from his injury nightmare
In a recent episode of DAZN’s docuseries on Marquez, titled Volver, tennis legend Rafael Nadal highlighted the changes in attitude that he has seen his compatriot undergo in the years following his injury woes at the start of the current decade.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner spoke from experience, starting with, “The difficulties, the injuries, the suffering, they have a positive side.
“When you come out of it, you manage to get through it and have the opportunity to do what you were doing before, you appreciate it so much more. Things you didn’t appreciate before, you appreciate them fully afterwards.
“Maybe before, of course, he appreciated it, but then again, he had always won. He has lived his whole life with victory.
“There have been better moments and worse moments, but he has never really faced the difficulty of going a long time without winning or a long time with so much suffering.
“Today, even though he wins practically every race, he values each race. I think if this had happened to him ten years ago, he would have been happy.
“Of course he would. But when you’ve won so many and you win another, you take it for granted. I think today he doesn’t take things for granted.”
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Marc Marquez has been likened to Rafael Nadal by fellow Spaniard Pedro Acosta in the past
Marquez’s return to form in the premier class was one of the most documented narratives in play during the 2025 MotoGP campaign, and Pedro Acosta drew parallels between his on-track rival and Nadal when it became clear that the Ant of Cervera would be securing the title.
The Murcian native believes that Marquez now sits at the same table as Nadal, as well as other Spanish sporting icons such as Fernando Alonso and Pau Gasol.
Angel Nieto currently sits as the most successful Spanish rider in Grand Prix motorcycle racing history with 13 world titles to his name.
However, none of those titles came in the premier class, which would have been the 500cc category during his day.
Nieto holds seven 125cc championships and six 50cc titles, which arguably makes Marquez the more successful rider in the grand scheme of things.
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