Let's talk MotoGP: Here's why Marc Marquez is so scary

Marc Marquez trails Marco Bezzecchi by 72 points in the world championship. MotoGPAnd yet, he's still just as fearsome. No one seems to be able to eliminate him from the title race, and that was already the case when he was more than 100 points behind. But why? The answer is simple, but it raises even more interesting questions.

 

One word

 

In fact, it boils down very simply: "better". Marc Marquez is, by far I believe, the best current rider, and one of the best of all time, if not, precisely, THE best. We know what makes him strong, we know his qualities, we also know his weaknesses. But then, a related question: why does Marc Marquez seem so threatening when we know he can also make mistakes, be too ambitious, and even lose a world title? After all, in 2015, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi were quite far ahead of him throughout the year..

 

 

This can be explained by his genius. Marquez isn't just number one in terms of riding skill or talent, but he has that extra something that allows him to have such an imposing aura in the minds of spectators – and undoubtedly other riders as well. When his name is mentioned, people first think of nine world championships, a record that no other current rider can come close to. It's quite difficult to explain, But his genius compensates for his flaws in the image he projects. A simple example: his overtaking maneuvers. Marquez is probably not among the top five in this area on the current grid, but through sheer force, or with a stroke of luck, he's always capable of overtaking. He's a free spirit. And it is this unpredictability that makes him so threatening.

This is the main difference compared to a more consistent rider, like Valentino Rossi for example. In his prime, Rossi was a force to be reckoned with. We knew he was going to be unbeatable, that he would use his race intelligence to win, that he was inevitable, in a way. For Marquez, it's completely different. We know he can make mistakes, have off days, but we also know he can dominate the field like no one ever has before. That's why, even 72 points behind, he's still in contention, because everyone knows he's capable of winning ten in a row even after missing two races, all while coming back from injury. This total disconnect from the dynamics and the uncertainty it embodies separates him, in my opinion, from a Rossi whose performances were more expected and logical in the early 2000s.

 

Marc Marquez and his natural advantage

 

 

The second point of this analysis goes hand in hand with the first. I would like to dedicate these few lines to his intrinsic talent...that no one is approaching at present, and perhaps in history. Well, we've all been aware of this since the very beginning of the 2010s. Yet, in 2026, it could still give him a decisive advantage, because the difference with the others is so enormous that on some circuits, it becomes impossible to beat him.

When Marquez races on one of his favorite tracks, there's no contest. We saw it again at Balaton Park with that braceSo, this forces everyone – including his rivals – to read the calendar differently. A very concrete example: we have to go to Brno. We already know that if it starts to rain, like everywhere else, then he'll have an advantage. Certain conditions favor pure talent, and rain is one of them. Then, two Grands Prix later, we'll go to the Sachsenring, one of his favorite circuits, where he can express his full potential. At the end of August, it's Aragon, and so on.

So yes, in principle, he is indeed 72 points behind. But his talent – already superior to that of the others – is so exacerbated in certain contexts (circuits or weather) that it makes us put this number into perspective depending on the stages to comeIt is naturally assumed that on the circuits mentioned, this will be able to reduce the bill.

Here's why, in my opinion, Marc Marquez remains the favorite in 2026. Tell me what you thought of this analysis 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