In the MotoGP paddock, comparisons are often made quickly. Too quickly, perhaps. Since Pedro Acosta's arrival in the premier class, many see him as a natural heir to Marc Marquez. The same audacity, the same attacking instinct, the same ability to shake up the established order.
But in Madrid, at an event organized by Estrella Galicia, the 2025 world champion felt compelled to set the record straight… with a sentence as brief as it was cutting. And in the room, the message resonated like an electric shock.
Before addressing the Acosta issue, Marquez He first addressed the current sporting context. Thailand Grand Prix marked a historical anomaly: for the first time in a long time, no Ducati finished on the podium.
This situation immediately reignited a sensitive debate: Ducati Is she too dependent on her star driver?
MarquezTrue to his direct style, he calmed things down.
« It was the first race in a long time without Ducati on the podiumI hope it was an accident., due to the weekend conditions »
For him, the Desmosedici remains an extremely competitive machine. He also points out that in his absence last year, other drivers perfectly stepped up. The motorcycle continued to evolve during the winter. »
And he is convinced that the Thai race could have ended very differently without an unexpected incident.
« If this incident with the curb and rim hadn't happened, I think that I could have put a Ducati on the podium It was entirely possible.. »
For Marc MarquezThe overall level of MotoGP continues to rise.
« Everyone is making progress we all need to move forwardboth in terms of piloting and mechanics »
Michelin, Aprilia, and paddock rumors: Marc Marquez responds
Another hot topic: the theory that a carcass Michelin specific would have favored aprilia-racing and explained his excellent performance. An idea that Marquez He dismissed it without hesitation. Rather than looking for technical excuses, the Catalan driver prefers to look in the mirror.
« I am always very demanding of myselfLast year, we finished first, second, and third. We need to keep improving. »
But the most striking moment of the press conference came when a journalist brought up the comparison that is increasingly circulating in the paddock: Peter Acosta Could it be the new Marc Marquez ?
The question was simple. The answer, however, was formidable.
When asked if he saw in the audacity ofAcosta a reflection of his own mindset in 2013, Marquez He didn't dodge. He replied in a single sentence, somewhere between a smile and a warning:
« The Marc Marquez of 2013 won in his first year »
The room erupted in laughter… but the message was crystal clear. Because behind the humor lies a historical truth: in 2013, Marquez had won the MotoGP championship in his rookie season, a feat that no one has repeated since.
In other words, if Acosta If he really wants to follow in his footsteps, he will have to do even more than just show talent.
The irony of the situation is that this rivalry might not be confined to the track. According to some paddock rumors, Acosta could become the teammate of Marquez in Ducati from 2027.
If this scenario materializes, MotoGP could witness a fascinating confrontation: the established champion, nine-time title winner, against the young predator who wants to overturn the established order.
But for now, Marquez seems to want to remind us of a simple thing. The past cannot be rewritten. And in the history of MotoGP, Marc Marquez The 2013 model remains a benchmark that is almost impossible to match.
