The 2025 MotoGP season will be remembered not only for the fierce battles on track but also for the remarkable comeback story of Marc Marquez, who clinched his ninth world championship with a podium finish at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi. The Spanish rider crossed the line second behind Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, securing the title with five rounds still left on the calendar. For many fans and riders alike, this triumph has solidified Marquez’s status as one of the greatest athletes in motorsport history, and the emotional tributes that followed only underlined the magnitude of his achievement.

Among those paying heartfelt respect was Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP World Champion and one of Marquez’s fiercest rivals on track. The Frenchman, who has shared unforgettable duels with Marquez since 2019, described the Spaniard as more than just a champion—he called him a legend.

Quartararo’s Emotional Tribute

Quartararo spoke openly about the emotions he felt watching Marquez celebrate his title after years of adversity.

“More than an athlete, he’s a legend now. Already he was [a legend],” said the Yamaha rider. “Looking at the video when he was celebrating, even I had emotions. Looking at what he had from 2020, with the injury, the bets that he had from changing teams, and what he achieved this year, especially with that domination, it was amazing. I’m super happy for him, because he had some tough times, and he really deserves what he’s doing now.”

These words carried significant weight, given the history between the two. Their rivalry had been one of the highlights of recent seasons, yet Quartararo has consistently shown respect for Marquez’s fighting spirit and resilience. His comments reflect not only admiration for Marquez’s talent but also recognition of the personal and physical battles he endured to return to the top.

One of the Greatest Comebacks in Sports

The significance of Marquez’s ninth championship extends far beyond the MotoGP paddock. His journey back to the summit has been hailed as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. After his devastating crash at Jerez in 2020, which left him with a shattered arm, Marquez faced a grueling recovery that included four surgeries and repeated setbacks. At one point, doubts about his future in MotoGP were widespread, and even Marquez himself admitted he considered retirement.

Across 2020, 2021, and 2022, he missed dozens of races, including extended absences due to complications with his arm and recurring issues with double vision. For a rider accustomed to dominance—winning six MotoGP titles in seven years with Honda—the reality of being sidelined was both physically and mentally crushing.

Yet, through perseverance and strategic decisions, Marquez engineered a return that culminated in his switch to Ducati, a move that many now consider career-defining. After a transitional year with Gresini Racing, where he rediscovered his rhythm and tested himself against the best, Marquez secured a seat in the factory Ducati squad. The result was a fairytale season capped with a dominant championship run.

Acosta, Viñales, and the Younger Generation Pay Tribute

Marquez’s achievement resonated deeply with the next generation of riders, including Pedro Acosta, widely regarded as Spain’s next big MotoGP star. The KTM rookie described Marquez’s comeback as the “biggest in sporting history.”

“I really want to congratulate him and all his close circle,” Acosta said. “Like I said in Barcelona, it was the biggest comeback of a sportsman in the sports world. Even I was emotional with the video that they put to him. I imagine how much he was struggling with his injury at home. He was really clever, stopping with Honda, going to Ducati, playing the game to go to factory Ducati for this. He should be proud of what he did, maybe even more than with the last eight titles before.”

Veteran Maverick Viñales, now with Tech3 KTM, also paid his respects: “I think it’s a tremendous achievement. After many years [being] injured, to arrive, to build, last year at Gresini and this year winning the official bike and fighting head-to-head with Bagnaia and beating him. It’s incredible, a reference and a role model.”

These comments highlight how Marquez’s story transcends rivalries. For both seasoned competitors and emerging talents, his resilience and championship spirit serve as inspiration.

The Role of Family and Support

While fans saw Marquez battling on track, his family and inner circle witnessed the darker moments of his recovery. His younger brother, Alex Marquez, revealed that even those closest to him couldn’t fully understand the physical and emotional toll of his injuries.

“He’s the one on the bike, he’s the one who’s been through it all. Those of us around him don’t know exactly what he’s been through,” Alex said. “All of us around him, my parents, Jose [Luis Martinez], me, we were partners in many things that he doesn’t know about because those were difficult times. But he’s the one who earned it, he worked hard for it, he was better than anyone else this year.”

Alex also emphasized that despite public doubts, he always believed his brother could return to championship form once given the right tools. The Gresini stint was crucial in rebuilding his confidence, while the move to Ducati finally gave him the machinery to challenge at the top.

Bagnaia’s Respect for His Teammate

As Marquez’s Ducati teammate, Francesco Bagnaia had the closest view of his rival-turned-colleague’s resurgence. The reigning champion from 2023 and 2024 acknowledged that what Marquez achieved over the past six years was nothing short of admirable.

“There aren’t many words to describe Marc’s season and his last six years,” Bagnaia admitted. He praised Marquez’s mental toughness and ability to reinvent himself despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. For Bagnaia, who fought fiercely against Marquez this season, the Spaniard’s triumph was proof of his enduring greatness.

Cementing a Legacy

With his seventh premier class title—his ninth overall—Marquez has drawn level with Valentino Rossi and sits just one championship shy of the all-time record held by Giacomo Agostini. But beyond the numbers, his 2025 triumph is perhaps the most defining of his career. Unlike his dominant early years, this championship was forged through adversity, resilience, and the will to overcome challenges that could have ended his career.

For Quartararo, Acosta, Viñales, Bagnaia, and countless fans around the world, Marquez’s story is a testament to why MotoGP is more than just a sport—it’s a theatre of human triumphs and struggles. As Quartararo said, Marc Marquez is not just an athlete anymore. He is a legend.