Marc Marquez returned to glory by winning his seventh MotoGP title at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, ending a six-year drought since his last world title in 2019. This triumph, achieved after a season in which he literally dominated the competition, reaffirms his status as a living legend of the sport. But at Ducati, they didn't just celebrate the victory; they openly claimed a decisive role in this return to the top.
After having left Honda end of 2023, tired of a motorcycle that had become a technical burden, Marquez joined Ducati with a huge gamble: to become champion again on a machine he had to tame. Two years later, the bet paid off.
With 11 Grand Prix victories and 14 Sprint wins, the 32-year-old Spaniard has had his best season since his hegemonic years. But while the performance has been praised everywhere, Mauro Grassilli, sports director of Ducati, does not hesitate to affirm that this success is not only that of the pilot:
« Seeing him on the red motorcycle was like a superhero. It's the best season he's ever had. But without Ducati, this title would have been impossible. »
A statement that sounds like a reminder: the Italian wants no one to forget the technical power of Borgo Panigale behind this return to the top.
To welcome Marquez, Ducati had to make a strong choice: let go George Martin, yet reigning world champion and rising star of the brand. A bold bet that Grassilli fully assumes today:
« The decision was difficult, but it was the right one. Marc gave us exactly what we needed to keep winning. »
Grassilli Ducati: " If he had stayed at Honda, Marc would still be fighting in the middle of the grid. »
Despite initial doubts about his ability to adapt to the Desmosedici and integrate into an already very competitive team, Marquez knew how to transform the Italian machine into an absolute weapon.
Claiming that a title would have been “impossible” without Ducati, Mauro Grassilli addresses an indirect but assumed tackle to Honda, the former brand of Marquez. The Spaniard had left the Japanese manufacturer after years of technical struggle, and his 2025 triumph with Ducati confirms the extent of the delay accumulated by HRC.
« If he had stayed with Honda, Marc would still be fighting in the middle of the grid. ", slipped Grassilli, highlighting the abysmal difference in competitiveness between the two projects.
Behind the smiles, the mission of Ducati is far from over. The brand's CEO has set himself a clear goal: five consecutive drivers' and constructors' titles. After building the ultimate weapon for Marquez, the engineers of Borgo Panigale must now maintain their domination against opponents who are organizing themselves — Yamaha et Honda investing heavily to close the gap.
Marquez, he has already warned: as long as he feels competitive and capable of “live 365 days a year for the motorcycle”, he will remain on the track. Enough to promise a still formidable alliance between the Spanish driver and the Italian giant… provided that Ducati continues to meet its requirements.
By publicly claiming that the coronation of Marquez would have been “impossible” without them, Mauro Grassilli marks a strategic move: to remind that Ducati is not only the scene of triumph, but the architect of this return to the summit.
A message to rivals — Honda in the lead - but also to the entire paddock: as long as Borgo Panigale keeps the most competitive machine on the grid, no superhero will be able to win in MotoGP without her.
