No doubt your social media feeds are abounding with Marc Marquez content today, one of MotoGP’s most celebrated ( and vilified. More on that later ) riders following his double win this weekend at the Aragon MotoGP. A win that was not just a simple addition to his already impressive career but a win that carries the weight of a tumultuous 3 years.
In 2020, Marquez suffered a serious arm injury at the Spanish Jerez Grand Prix and despite multiple surgeries his arm will forever remain a constant issue of which he will still have to fight. He has had to relearn many aspects of his riding, making adjustments to his personal technique and riding style as well as constant rehabilitation works focussing on both strength and mobility. All of which he goes into detail about in the Amazon Docuseries Marc Marquez: All In, worth a watch if you haven’t already.
The Spaniard had dominated the track during the years prior to his injury aboard his Repsol Honda, where he notched six MotoGP titles and 59 Grand Prix wins with the team. However, as a result of a clear decline in results since his injury, Marc was being forced to consider retirement as he underwent a forth operation in 2022 ( which is the main focus of the Docuseries). Although he recovered to resume his career, the 2023 season was a guff with a record high tally of crashes and only securing a single podium finish, being the season opener at Philip Island. All of which did little to inspire confidence that Marc would ever be a world champion again.
Whilst as always, there was no questioning his commitment to giving 100%, a question however remained unanswered. Had Marc lost his ability or was it his machinery holding him back?
It was at this point, after it became clear from the Marques unconvincing development plans for the coming season that Marquez had to take an unprecedented decision and buy out his remaining contract with Honda and move on, making a complete change and leaving the Honda Family in a bid to be able to answer the question. Is it me or the bike?
To add even more shock to this colossal manufacturer change, Marc announced that he would be joining a satellite Ducati team, Gresini. Teamed alongside his brother Alex, Marc was theoretically already at an immediate disadvantage, the 2023 Ducati rivals Bagnaia and Martin were moving onto and developing the GP24 Ducati, leaving him and his brother on the GP23 and leaving many people wondering, would he be able to keep up?
However, in a memorable preseason test Marquez rolled out of the box at Valencia for the first time onboard his GP23 Ducati and it was then that a whisper of the word ‘Champion’ began to float once more in the air, forth quickest at the end of the day and just two tenths off the pace, the smile was back on Marc’s face and the anticipation for the 2024 season began.
As the 2024 season opened, perhaps that first victory anticipation was tempered somewhat by a fourth place finish, clearly there was still work to do in adapting to the Ducati and work to be done with the GP23 bike in comparison to its newer GP24 sibling but it didn’t seem take long, with a Sprint Race win at the Portuguese GP, a Pole position (a 93rd for his career) at Jerez, it was looking as though Marquez was starting to become at one with his Ducati.
Going head to head at the JerezGP with Bagnaia for the win; Bagnaia, aboard the ‘in theory’ superior factory Ducati, ultimately came out the victor but that didn’t stop Marquez giving it a good go and showcasing that he was determined to fight to the end for the win, regardless of any disadvantage.
At the French GP he finished second in both the Sprint and GP race. Then, at Barcelona he pushed through from 14th to 2nd place in the Saturdays sprint race, with another podium for 3rd place in the GP race, which marked the first time since 2019 where he scored three consecutive GP podiums.
On 5 June, with the world of MotoGP glued to their inboxes, Ducati announced Marquez had signed a two year deal to race for its factory team through to the end of 2026.
Marc, during the press conference said “ from the moment I rode the Desmosedici GP I knew my goal was to continue this path, to continue to grow and move to the team where Bagnaia has been the world champion for two years in a row, I am grateful for the trust Ducati have placed in me”
Headed into the AragonGP weekend, optimism was in the air. I had conversations with the photographer ( Joel Cooper ) who supplies SBN with its MotoGP photos that it just felt like it might be the one – the weekend just felt right, the progression felt levelled and just.
Love him or loath him, no one can deny that Marc has given everything to be the best in the world, at time when many may have simply been happy to hang up their leathers on the back of a hugely successful career, Marc was not prepared to leave without it being on his terms – and thank goodness he didn’t, because what a year of racing it’s been!
Running a social media platform that features MotoGP, WorldSBK and British Superbike content can give you a glimpse into the darker side of the racing world, trolls. It doesn’t matter the race series we might be covering, we see staunch fans for one rider or team and their unwillingness to be open to another or to see racers beyond the “job”
Gresini Racing Admin Team might just one of the most creative social media channels within the MotoGP paddock (though Trackhouse are giving it a good go) it brings me to actual physical laughter to see the fun, energetic and somewhat eclectic vibe and direction they have taken the platform and it’s via them that Marc has been able to shine. By sharing more of his personality with his fans, Gresini has done wonders for his racing persona and legacy, rather than it all being hidden behind the more standard corporate satisfying façade we see from other teams and their riders. Its great marketing for not only Gresini and Marc, but the sport in general by bringing out the person within rider for all to see.
My only hope here is that this “New Marc” isn’t lost when moving to Factory Ducati in 2025. More dancing please!
So, Aragon… a Double win.. but this just isn’t just another victory, it feels like more, so much more .. It feels like 3 years of wins, 3 years of struggle, 3 years of pain.
However, short turn around, no time to linger and bathe in this victory – Round 13 at Misano incoming – Its race week once more, can he do it again? No doubts that Bangnaia will be eager to reclaim the Championship lead and Bastianini is only one point adrift from Marquez who holds 3rd place, the Championship is still very much all to play for!
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Words: Kerrie McFadden @First Turn Media Email:info@Firstturnmedia.co.uk
Photos are copyrighted to Hawk Media Services and Superbike News.
