In Japan, he will need just three points to equal Valentino Rossi with a ninth world title. But behind the brilliance of his victories and his renewed dominance, Marc Marquez's story is above all one of resurrection.
July 2020, Jerez is a date and a stage that changes everything in the career and life of Marc Marquez. Certain of his strength, he downplays the seriousness of a broken humerus. The man who won four consecutive crowns thought he was invincible. He comes back too quickly, too sure of himself, and locks himself in a physical and mental nightmare.
« My biggest mistake was coming back too soon ", he admits today. Between constant pain, an unstable arm, and loss of sensation, the Spaniard is sinking. In 2021, he no longer recognizes his body or his speed. Motivation collapses, and with it, desire.
At the moment, Marquez stares into space. Why not stop? " he wonders. The doubt is immense, the despair palpable. Yet, a small voice insists: " why not continue? » This inner rebellion drives him to seek an answer. Is he still competitive? Can he once again become the rider who made MotoGP tremble?
Pour le savoir, Marc Marquez chooses the riskiest path: leaving Honda, turn your back on money and history, and join almost for free Gresini Racing teamA decision for survival.
Marc Marquez: “ If I hadn't been competitive with Gresini, I was sure my career would be over. »
« I put aside relationships, money, the story. If I hadn't been competitive with Gresini, I was sure my career would be over. " he confides to motogp.com. Alongside his brother Alex, he finds speed, confidence, and above all, victory. The answer he was looking for is there: he can still dominate.
Once reassured, Marquez moves on to the next step: aiming for the top with the ultimate weapon, the Ducati factory. " As soon as I arrived, I knew I was in the right place. " he explains. From the preseason onwards, a single objective guided his steps: to become world champion again.
The result is beyond imagination: series victories, performances on historically complicated circuits, and a domination that erases doubts. I know from experience that everything can change overnightTrying doesn't guarantee success. But it's already a success, because if you don't try, you never know.When I retire, I will know that it was impossible to make more effort than planned. ».
Today, Marc Marquez allows himself to smile about it: " Two years ago, I would never have imagined being in this shape.. » His path is anything but a straight line: he passed through the abyss before finding the light again. But it is perhaps this crossing of the desert that gives him this new confidence today.
In Motegi, the September 28, the story could be written in gold letters. Not just that of a ninth title, but that of a driver who dared to defy his own end, and who proved that he could be reborn even stronger.
