Fabio Quartararo has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and in 2025, the Frenchman has once again delivered a candid and heartfelt assessment of one of his fiercest rivals. As Marc Marquez edges closer to securing his first MotoGP world title since 2019, Quartararo has showered the Ducati Lenovo star with glowing praise, describing his season as “amazing” and awarding him nothing less than a “10 out of 10.”

For Quartararo, who shared unforgettable battles with Marquez during his breakout year in 2019, the Spaniard’s resurgence is more than just a comeback story—it is, in his words, “a perfect season” and one of the greatest examples of resilience in modern motorsport.

Reflecting on 2019: The Beginning of a Rivalry

To fully appreciate Quartararo’s admiration for Marquez’s 2025 campaign, one must revisit their shared history. Back in 2019, Quartararo was a MotoGP rookie riding for Petronas Yamaha. Few expected him to immediately challenge at the front, but he stunned the paddock by consistently qualifying at the sharp end and fighting for podiums. His toughest rival that season? None other than Marc Marquez.

The pair delivered thrilling duels, most memorably at Misano and Thailand, where Quartararo came agonizingly close to his maiden victory, only to be beaten by Marquez’s relentless racecraft. Though Marquez ultimately dominated the championship that year, securing his eighth world title, Quartararo had earned a reputation as the next big star of the sport.

Fast forward six years, and their careers have taken vastly different paths—yet they now converge once again at the highest level.

The Six Years That Changed Everything

Speaking to the media, Quartararo placed special emphasis not just on Marquez’s current success, but on the six difficult years that separated their early battles from today.

“For me, what matters is the six years in the middle, between our duels in 2019 and now,” Quartararo reflected. “In 2020, he was at his peak. In the first race he was super fast, he came back from the gravel and almost finished second. Then what happened [the arm injury], happened. From there, there were more injuries, the bike was no longer competitive, so he moved to a satellite team and then to a factory team.”

This passage highlights the enormous challenges Marquez endured. His career was nearly derailed by a devastating arm injury sustained at Jerez in 2020. Multiple surgeries, recurring diplopia (double vision), and years of battling with an uncompetitive Honda left many wondering if his career at the top was over.

Yet, instead of fading away, Marquez made bold choices. He left Honda, the manufacturer with whom he had won all six of his premier-class titles, to join Gresini Ducati in 2024. After a single year of rebuilding his confidence, he secured a dream move to the Ducati Lenovo factory team for 2025. Now, at the age of 32, he finds himself on the brink of another world championship—a triumph many thought impossible just a few years ago.

A Season Rated 10/10

For Quartararo, Marquez’s revival is nothing short of extraordinary. “His season has just been amazing,” the Frenchman declared. “Mentally, it’s about how strong he is and his quality as a rider. For me, it’s a 10 out of 10.”

It is not often that one world champion rates another so highly, particularly when they are active rivals on the track. Yet Quartararo’s remarks carry weight precisely because he knows firsthand what it takes to win at this level. His own 2021 title triumph with Yamaha required both mental toughness and adaptability, qualities he now sees reflected—amplified even—in Marquez’s renaissance.

Mental Strength at the Core

One of the key themes of Quartararo’s admiration is Marquez’s mental fortitude. Injuries and setbacks can shatter even the most talented riders, but Marquez has turned adversity into fuel. His willingness to endure rehabilitation, switch manufacturers, and adapt to new machinery is a testament to his determination.

“Mentally, it’s about how strong he is,” Quartararo explained. Indeed, beyond raw speed and racecraft, the hallmark of Marquez’s 2025 campaign has been his unwavering belief in his ability to return to the top. This psychological resilience has inspired not only his fans but also fellow riders like Quartararo, who himself has endured difficult seasons with Yamaha’s underperforming bike.

A Benchmark for Future Champions

Quartararo’s praise also highlights a broader truth about Marquez’s influence on MotoGP. Even at this stage of his career, Marquez continues to set the standard for excellence. Younger riders, whether consciously or not, measure themselves against him. Quartararo, once dubbed “the next Marquez” by some observers, is now mature enough to acknowledge the benchmark his rival has set.

This season has not only been about speed but also about consistency. Marquez has avoided the reckless crashes that marred some of his post-injury years, instead combining aggression with patience, a balance that Quartararo clearly respects.

Lessons for Yamaha and Quartararo

While Quartararo has struggled with Yamaha’s lack of competitiveness, his admiration for Marquez may also reflect his own hopes for the future. Just as Marquez reinvented himself by leaving Honda, Quartararo has hinted that his own long-term future could depend on Yamaha’s progress with their upcoming V4 project.

Marquez’s success proves that even when circumstances seem dire, a rider can rebuild, adapt, and rise again. For Quartararo, who has faced growing frustration with Yamaha’s technical limitations, this could serve as both inspiration and a roadmap.

A Rivalry Renewed?

With Marquez potentially crowned champion once again and Quartararo seeking redemption in 2026, the stage could be set for their rivalry to reignite. The battles of 2019 remain etched in fans’ memories, and the prospect of new duels between the Frenchman and the Spaniard—both older, wiser, and more battle-hardened—would be a dream scenario for MotoGP.

For now, however, Quartararo seems content to applaud Marquez’s achievements, showing both humility and sportsmanship. “It’s a 10 out of 10,” he repeated, summing up his rival’s campaign with the kind of praise that only a fellow elite rider can truly appreciate.

Conclusion

Marc Marquez’s 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the greatest comebacks in sports, and Fabio Quartararo’s words underline the magnitude of the achievement. From devastating injuries to a triumphant return at the top with Ducati, Marquez has redefined resilience and determination in MotoGP.

By calling it “a perfect season” and rating it 10/10, Quartararo has not only acknowledged Marquez’s greatness but also reminded the world why their rivalry remains so compelling. As MotoGP looks toward the future, the possibility of these two champions clashing once again for supremacy is tantalizing. Until then, Marquez’s resurgence stands as a beacon of inspiration—for Quartararo, for fans, and for the sport as a whole.