One hundred and two points behind. A bruised shoulder. An Aprilia that had become formidable. And yet, Marc Marquez is now on the verge of another world title. For many, this turnaround is one of the most spectacular stories of the 2026 MotoGP season. But not so for Cal Crutchlow. The former Honda rider, who battled the Spaniard for a long time on an identical machine, knows his old rival well enough to know that he should never be considered beaten. Even when a championship seems to be slipping away.
Crutchlow: “ Marc Marquez never ceases to amaze us »
Present in Qatar, Cal Crutchlow was asked by MotoGP.com about Marquez 's incredible comeback in the championship fight. His response reflects a long-standing admiration: " Marc Marquez continues to amaze us, so it's hard to say he wouldn't come back ."
The Englishman knows what he's talking about. Between 2015 and 2020, he rode a Honda RC213V for LCR , winning three Grands Prix while Marquez regularly dominated the category with the factory team. He was therefore able to directly assess what set the Spaniard apart from his rivals.
And this ability to push the limits seems to have survived injuries, surgeries, and difficult years. What others would have considered an insurmountable setback, Marquez has transformed into a new challenge.
Marquez: 102 points behind Bezzecchi at the top of the championship
To understand the magnitude of the turnaround, we need to go back to the Italian Grand Prix . Marquez was returning to competition after an operation intended to treat his persistent problems with his right arm.
During his absence and physical difficulties, Aprilia had gained the upper hand. The RS-GP had won five of the first seven Grands Prix , allowing Marco Bezzecchi to build a considerable lead. After Mugello, 102 points separated Marquez from the Italian leader.
Then everything changed. At Balaton Park, the Spaniard won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, launching a comeback that would gradually reverse the balance of power. His performances were accompanied by the mistakes and accidents of his Aprilia rivals.
But to reduce his comeback solely to the difficulties faced by Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin would be to overlook the essential point: Marquez knew how to capitalize on almost every opportunity. Such efficiency is precisely the mark of a great champion.
Aprilia held all the cards… Ducati has regained control
Crutchlow doesn't downplay the quality of the competition, however. " The fight for the title was incredible. It's a real shame Jorge had an accident in Australia ." Martin 's injury certainly impacted the end of the season. And Bezzecchi , despite his victories, wasn't able to maintain the lead he'd built up during the first half of the championship.
This scenario is a stark reminder of a sometimes harsh reality in MotoGP: having the best bike on multiple circuits isn't enough. You also have to convert that competitiveness into points, week after week. Marquez , for his part, rediscovered that consistency at the crucial moment. After Qatar , he now has a 60- point lead over Martin.
A victory in the Portimão Sprint would allow him to clinch his eighth title in the premier category and his tenth world title across all categories.
So, what do we remember?
- Crutchlow is not surprised by Marquez's comeback, whose exceptional qualities he has known since their Honda years.
- The 102 points gained from Bezzecchi illustrate a major turnaround, favored by Ducati's performance and Aprilia's difficulties.
Marquez hasn't mathematically won the championship yet. But he's already achieved something remarkable: transforming a season that seemed doomed into a demonstration of resilience. And for Crutchlow , the real surprise might have been to see Marc Marquez accept defeat without attempting the impossible.
