Marco Bezzecchi
Marc Marquez has told 2026 MotoGP rookie Diogo Moreira the “difference” between simply being a fast rider and a champion is how you manage “moments of pressure”.
Very few riders can speak about what makes a MotoGP champion better than Marquez, who has won seven premier class titles so far after he dominated the 2025 season. The 33-year-old is even a nine-time world champion, having also taken one 125cc and one Moto2 crown.
Moreira also has a Moto2 title to his name after the 21-year-old became the first Brazilian to win the intermediate class in 2025. The Sao Paulo native battled back from a 61-point deficit to win the 2025 Moto2 title by 30 points, after already signing to debut in MotoGP with LCR.
Honda signed Moreira to a multi-year factory MotoGP contract in October and placed him at their satellite team, LCR, for the 2026 term. The Guarulhos-born gem made his premier class debut in last Sunday’s Thailand Grand Prix, which he finished in P13 – 24.686s from the lead.
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Marc Marquez believes mental management defines a MotoGP champion more than raw speed
Moreira and Marquez followed the Thailand GP by attending a sponsor’s event, along with 2025 Moto3 champion and 2026 Moto2 rider Jose Antonio Rueda, this Wednesday. During the event, Moreira asked Marquez what separates a quick MotoGP rider from a champion.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Diogo Moreira from net worth to height
Marquez believes a champion differs from a quick MotoGP rider as they are able to manage moments of uncertainty better than their competitors. He particularly feels a champion will set themselves apart when the pressure rises, especially over a 22-round MotoGP calendar.
“We’re all fast riders on the grid, including you,” Marquez teased Moreira, via MARCA. “We riders know how to ride a bike, from Moto3 to MotoGP.
“But then managing moments of pressure, moments of uncertainty, tyre management – it’s not just about being fast, it’s about managing the different situations that come up during a 22-race season.
“That’s where the difference between a champion and a fast rider lies. In testing, everyone is fast. Then, on race weekends, it’s a bit more difficult.”
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Marquez’s words of wisdom are not void claims, as he put his beliefs into practice to win the 2025 MotoGP title in truly dominant fashion after joining the works Ducati team. He won 11 Grands Prix and 14 Sprint Races over the 18 rounds out of the 22 that he contested in 2025.
The Cervera native flew out of the gates last year, but he then had to adapt his mindset and deal with uncertainty by managing the early phases of races after encountering a few early setbacks. Marquez realised that he needed to manage the early laps to build into the races.
Marquez crashed from the lead of the 2025 Americas Grand Prix, and also whilst fighting in the lead group at the 2025 Spanish GP, by trying to push too hard at the wrong moment for his hopes. The tyres that Michelin provides for MotoGP also require constant management.
MotoGP’s spec tyres require constant care and attention to last a full race distance without suffering from a major drop-off in performance in the closing stages. It is impossible for any rider to just push flat-out from lights out until the chequered flag without paying the price.
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