Marc Márquez is a world champion again.
At 32 years old, the Spaniard clinched his seventh MotoGP riders’ crown – and his first since 2019 – at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi, sealing an unassailable lead in the standings with five rounds still to go.
The Ducati star finished second behind teammate Francesco Bagnaia in Sunday’s race, a result good enough to put him 201 points clear of his younger brother and title rival Álex Márquez. Joan Mir completed the podium for Honda, while Álex could only manage sixth. As the chequered flag fell, so did years of frustration, recovery, and relentless grind for one of MotoGP’s greatest-ever riders.
When Márquez crossed the line, he immediately buried his head in his hands. Then came the scream – a release of every scar, every setback, every “what if” of the past six years. He later stopped at the big screen by the pit straight, watching a montage of his battles since 2019: the four operations, over 100 crashes, and endless speculation about whether he’d ever be the same again.
“It’s impossible even to speak … I just want to enjoy the moment,” Márquez said, fighting back tears. “It was super difficult, but now I’m at peace with myself. I did a big mistake in my career, to come back too early, and then I fight, fight, fight – and I won again!”
That fight has now carried him back to the Tower of Champions, MotoGP’s iconic cylindrical trophy, where his name was etched once more into the sport’s history.
The Japanese Grand Prix itself had all the tension of a coronation day. Ducati’s Bagnaia – pole-sitter and Saturday sprint winner – bolted off the line and quickly built a comfortable gap over KTM’s rookie sensation Pedro Acosta. Márquez slotted in third, managing the pressure of the championship moment.
By lap seven, Bagnaia looked untouchable, while Márquez initially struggled to keep pace with Acosta and a charging Mir. The turning point came on lap 11, when Márquez timed his move perfectly, diving past Acosta in the slipstream. But the damage was done – Bagnaia was already four seconds clear.
Behind them, Acosta faded with grip issues, allowing Mir to snatch a much-needed podium. Up front, the Ducati garage briefly held its breath as smoke trailed from Bagnaia’s Desmosedici. Márquez began to close the gap, but Bagnaia held his nerve to claim his second win of the season.
“I don’t want to take the spotlight from Marc, he deserves it today,” Bagnaia said after the race. “I’m happy with my win, but this is Marc’s moment.”
Perhaps the most emotional image of the day came not from the podium but the parc fermé. Álex Márquez, Marc’s closest rival and brother, was the first to embrace him after the title was confirmed. The two shared a long, heartfelt hug – a sporting rivalry giving way to family pride.
Álex later admitted he was frustrated with his sixth-place finish, but his joy for his brother’s return to the pinnacle was undeniable.
For Márquez, this seventh premier-class title cements his place in the pantheon alongside Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini. What makes it different – perhaps even sweeter – is the journey. He wasn’t the dominant 20-something phenom anymore; he was the veteran who clawed his way back from career-threatening injuries, self-doubt, and a changing sport.
It took 2,184 days to return to the top. But now, once again, the MotoGP world belongs to Marc Márquez.
My Goat Sports 