Casey Stoner, a two-time MotoGP world champion, has described Marc Marquez’s outstanding 2025 season as surprising and his most remarkable yet. Following the 12th round of the season, Ducati’s factory riders dominated by securing eight Grand Prix wins and 11 sprint victories, leading the championship by 120 points ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite Honda’s bike struggling with competitiveness, a situation tied to Marquez’s comeback from a serious arm injury sustained five years ago, the Spaniard has defied expectations.
Stoner, who retired from MotoGP in 2012 and once raced for Honda alongside Marquez, noted that doubts about Marquez’s physical condition created uncertainty about his preseason performance. Speaking to Sky Italia, Stoner admitted he did not anticipate Marquez being so quick at the start of the year. After moving to Ducati with team Gresini last year, Marquez appeared more confident, though his recovery progress from his arm injury was still unclear. Stoner expressed surprise at Marquez’s current level of performance, stating that his arms must be nearly fully healed if he can now achieve feats that others cannot.
Throughout the season, Marquez consistently impressed, and Stoner believes this has been the most impressive campaign of his career. Ahead of the summer break, Marquez competed among legends like Stoner, a former Ducati world champion before moving to Honda in 2011. Stoner returned briefly to Ducati as a test rider later in his career and will attend this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, participating in the Legends parade at the Red Bull Ring on a Honda RC213V-S.
Fan Take: Marc Marquez’s resurgence not only adds thrilling unpredictability to the 2025 MotoGP season but also underscores the incredible resilience and skill top riders bring to the sport. For racing fans, this thrilling comeback story enhances the championship’s intensity and sets the stage for an epic rivalry that could redefine MotoGP’s competitive landscape.
