Let's talk MotoGP: Has Marc Marquez made the greatest comeback in the history of the sport? Not so sure!

Today, a little rant. Don't worry, it's nothing against Marc Marquez, but rather against MotoGP, which, once again, is erasing its history. Since Marc Marquez's title win, six years after his last championship, we've seen his feat described everywhere as "the greatest comeback in the history of sport," which is understandable for mainstream media, of course, but it should stop there. Let me explain.

 

What is a " comeback »

 

In fact, This is a rather American-style discussion.Across the Atlantic, where Hollywood storylines are beloved, there's a love of celebrating great stories and comebacks after a period of darkness. It's so deeply ingrained in the culture that the NFL, the American football league, awards the title of " comeback of the year" to a player who has "demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by battling illness, injuries, or other circumstances that caused repeated absences the previous season ».

 

 

Since Marc Marquez won the 2025 world title in Japan, many observers have described his achievement as the greatest. comeback of the history of sport, not just MotoGP. And, I'm sorry to say, but it's too muchNote: I don't mean to disrespect Marc Marquez in any way, because what he accomplished between 2020 and 2025 was exceptional. The problem is that I've seen very reputable British sports media compare his return to the top of the world to Tiger Woods' comeback after his back problems, to that of Rafael Nadal, Peyton Manning, etc.

What bothers me is that Marc Marquez is elevated above his status as a motorcycle racer, while other racing heroes who have suffered the same fate, or even worse, are conveniently overlooked. Why not take a look at our own history before invoking Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, who are equally legendary figures? but whose relationship to risk has absolutely nothing to do with that of a motorcycle rider?

 

Marc Marquez belongs to a very special world

 

I love and respect all sports. But what you need to understand is The reason is that motorized sports are by far the most violent.Even more so than MMA or boxing. No other professional activity has seen so many deaths, horrific accidents, and injuries capable of abruptly ending a teenager's career.

Therefore, I cannot equate Marc Marquez's injuries sustained in horrific crashes at 250 km/h with a ruptured Achilles tendon on an NBA court. There's a world of difference between putting your basketball shoes back on after a long break. and get back on a machine that can actually kill its pilotThis is just my opinion, but I therefore consider that comebacks in motorsports are the most impactful and courageous in the world of sport.

 

The story doesn't begin with Marc Marquez

 

But then, why don't I consider Marc Marquez's return the greatest if, from my point of view, it's more difficult to achieve a comeback in motorsports as elsewhere? Because there are 76 years of history to consider, that's all.

 

 

The idea for this article came to me while browsing the official MotoGP.com website.You'll find an article there that deals with the greatest comebacks in sports history, published after Marc Marquez's title win. Naturally, it's included. Niki Lauda is also featured, who, after his accident at the Nürburgring in 1976, is somewhat of a reference in the field, but also Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, whom I have already mentioned.

On the official MotoGP website, no mention of Mick Doohanwhich, in my opinion, has a comeback Even more incredible. The Australian, in 1992, was simply unstoppable. He was cruising almost effortlessly towards his first world title when a terrible accident abruptly halted his dominance at Assen. Taken to the hospital, he was found to have suffered a double spiral fracture in his right leg. The situation was so serious that a pernicious gangrene set in. Thanks to the efforts of Dr. Costa, Doohan was "removed" from the hospital and avoided amputation, not without suffering, of course.

Several extraordinary operations were required to save the day. To keep the right leg alive, Dr. Costa had to sew the two legs together so that the left leg could support its twin sister. I'll spare you the graphic details of this incredible story. which is very well recounted by Mat Oxley in Motorsport MagazineAt the end of the season, he was already back, with no feeling in his leg. Then, after a rather difficult year, he won the world title in 1994. But it doesn't stop there! With one leg slightly shorter than the other, Doohan won five consecutive titles from 1994 to 1998, something Marc Marquez never managed to do even when in top form.

If we base our judgment on the results after the injury, then, in my opinion, le comeback Doohan's is the most magnificent in the history of motorcycle sport, and, by extension, one of the greatest in all of sports.

On the other hand, if we are talking about symbolism, I would like to quickly mention that of Ernst Degner, for me the most miraculous of all. I recounted his barely believable story at length in this article.So, I'll make it short. At the 1963 Japanese 250cc Grand Prix, his motorcycle burst into flames during an accident. The burns were so severe that Degner received fifty skin grafts. We must take into account the era in which these very delicate operations were carried out! Marc Marquez, while demonstrating an iron will, has de facto was helped by the best doctors on the planet, which was certainly not the case for Doohan in the Netherlands before his kidnapping, let alone a skin graft in the sixties.

And yet, after a long period of convalescence, Ernst Degner won the Japanese Grand Prix the following year, this time in the 125cc class. He even had a very good 1965 season in both the 125cc and 250cc classes, with three victories in total. A hero.

 

Conclusion

 

Marc Marquez is definitely part of the debate. That said, I find it absolutely shameful that the official website doesn't even mention the cases of Mick Doohan and Ernst Degner in an article dedicated to... comebacks, but rather those of Tiger Woods and Monica Seles, whose severity and context of injuries are absolutely incomparable to those that the modern gladiators we so admire have to deal with.

I am curious to have your opinion on this thorny question. Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport