Marc Márquez on His Comeback: “Some People Say I Should Stop…”
Marc Márquez, the eight-time Grand Prix World Champion, has been through a grueling three-year journey of injury setbacks, painful crashes, and the ongoing challenge of a less-competitive Honda. Yet, despite the toll, Márquez remains determined to keep fighting, fueled by the same fire that saw him rise to the top of MotoGP at a young age.
Widely considered one of motorcycle racing’s greatest, Márquez achieved an astonishing level of success early in his career. Not only was he the youngest rider to win the premier class MotoGP title at 20 years old, but he also clinched the championship in his rookie season. Between 2013 and 2019, Márquez dominated the sport, securing six MotoGP World Championships in just seven years.
However, his meteoric rise was halted by a career-altering injury at the opening round of the 2020 MotoGP season at Jerez. A crash that resulted in a serious arm injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, setting off a string of injury woes, surgeries, and on-track misfortunes that continue to trouble him today.
In an interview with the BBC, Márquez opened up about the mental and physical strain of the past few years, revealing that some people in his inner circle have suggested he should retire from racing. “All my career has been very sweet and everything easy—a lot of wins and eight World Championships. Then it was the start of my nightmare,” he said.
The 30-year-old Spaniard has only started 37 of the 80 races since the 2020 season began. Recurring injuries, including a problematic diplopia eye condition and multiple surgeries to correct his arm injury, have kept Márquez from returning to his previous form. In addition to his physical setbacks, Honda’s latest iteration of the RC213V has been criticized for its unpredictability, further complicating Márquez’s efforts to reclaim his dominance on the track.
Despite these challenges, Márquez remains committed to his MotoGP career. “It was three years of suffering a lot,” he admitted. “I wouldn’t lie to you if I said it was time to say ‘maybe it is time to stop my career,’ but this is not the kind of decision that you can take from one day to another one.”
While some close to Márquez have urged him to consider walking away from the sport, the Repsol Honda rider insists that his passion for racing and desire to compete are still alive. “Some people around me say it is time to stop, but most other people say to try to continue, and that is what I am doing. The passion is there, the motivation is there, and I need to find a way to enjoy it on the racetrack—that is most important.”
So far in the 2023 MotoGP season, Márquez’s best result has been a third-place finish in the inaugural Sprint Race at Portimão. Despite a string of high-profile crashes and incidents—including a collision with Miguel Oliveira in Portugal and several crashes at the Sachsenring in Germany—he is not ready to give up on the season.
“Every single year, when I start the season, it is to fight for the championship. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the ninth World Championship or the first World Championship, I will fight in the same way,” Márquez said. He acknowledges the challenges posed by constant competition from other riders and manufacturers, but he remains focused on improving for the second half of the season.
As the 2023 MotoGP campaign heads into its final rounds, Márquez is determined to find his form again. “MotoGP is constant evolution. You need to always be there and try to improve,” he added. While the road ahead is undeniably difficult, Márquez’s confidence in his ability to bounce back remains intact. Looking ahead to 2024, he is optimistic about his chances to fight for another title. “The spirit is there.”
For now, the MotoGP world continues to watch closely, eager to see if Márquez can once again reach the heights that made him one of the sport’s all-time greats.
