Marc Márquez is set to enter the 2026 MotoGP season as the frontrunner to claim the championship, following a dominant 2025 campaign with Ducati. The 32-year-old clinched his seventh premier class world title and ninth overall by winning 11 Grand Prix races and 14 Sprint events.
This achievement marks six years since his most recent injury in 2019 and five years since a major right arm injury at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix. Márquez now shares the record for the most MotoGP titles with Valentino Rossi, each holding seven premier class championships, plus one in Moto2/250cc and another in 125cc. Interestingly, this milestone comes exactly a decade after Márquez’s intense rivalry with Rossi during the 2015 season finale.
Only Giacomo Agostini surpasses them in premier class titles, boasting eight. As the 2026 season approaches, Márquez could surpass Rossi in several key statistics. Rossi has 115 Grand Prix victories across all classes compared to Márquez’s 99. With 22 races ahead, Márquez has a realistic shot of closing this gap. In the premier class alone, Rossi leads with 89 wins, while Márquez holds 73, and Márquez aims to exceed that with 16 or more wins next year.
If Márquez secures another title with Ducati in 2026, he will become the oldest MotoGP champion, breaking Rossi’s record set at ages 29 and 30. Rossi holds a slight edge with 76 fastest laps compared to Márquez’s 72. However, Rossi’s podium lead is currently insurmountable, with 235 podiums across all classes against Márquez’s 165, and 199 to 126 in the premier class.
Fan Take: This shift in MotoGP dominance underscores an exciting new era as Márquez challenges long-standing records, promising intense competition for racing enthusiasts. Márquez’s resurgence not only fuels fresh rivalries but also highlights the sport’s evolving landscape, captivating fans worldwide.
