Michael Schumacher, Dale Earnhardt, AJ Foyt, Lewis Hamilton, Jimmie Johnson, Richard Petty, Valentino Rossi, and now Marc Marquez. Motorsport’s elite has a new member, setting a fresh benchmark of greatness. With five rounds still to go, the Ducati rider clinched his seventh MotoGP crown at the Japanese Grand Prix, outdueling brother Alex to end a six-year title drought.
After 2,184 days of injuries, crashes, and comebacks, the 32-year-old etched his name once again on the iconic “Tower of Champions,” joining motorsport’s most elite company across F1, NASCAR, and IndyCar.
Marc Marquez Claims Historic Seventh Title, Cementing Place Among All-Time Greats
“Will Márquez have the greatest season in MotoGP history?” This was the weekly question on one of the top sports publications’ covers. One week later, the Spaniard equalled the record of Moto GP great and fellow rival Valentino Rossi to win nine world titles.
With 115 Grand Prix wins, including 89 in MotoGP, the numbers speak for Rossi. Only Giacomo Agostini surpasses him, though Agostini’s legendary status is often viewed in the context of an era dominated by limited manufacturer competition in the 1960s and early 1970s.
What sets the 32-year-old Marquez apart is his resilience in the face of injury. Over his career, Marquez has suffered more than 100 injuries and endured four major crashes, costing him months, or even years, of his prime. Yet he repeatedly returned, determined to dominate on his Honda, only to be hindered by the machine that had delivered him six titles.
Recognizing it was time for a fresh start, Marquez switched to Ducati in 2025, leaving Gresini Racing to harness the raw acceleration of the Ducati Lenovo team and write a new chapter in his career. And with five rounds to spare, his big decision realized his seventh title.
While clinching the MotoGP title in his rookie season at just 20 remains one of the most extraordinary feats in motorcycle racing history, there were stretches in mid-2013 when it seemed Marquez wasn’t truly being tested by the strongest competition.
Marc Marquez joins a list of legends in MotoGP, NASCAR, INDYCAR and F1 to win seven premier-class titles. pic.twitter.com/77FJi09QOd
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) September 28, 2025
Yet after a grueling series of crashes and injuries that have plagued him since 2020, Marquez has finally outdone himself, joining the elite ranks of seven-time champions alongside Foyt (IndyCar), Earnhardt (NASCAR), Johnson (NASCAR), Hamilton (F1), Petty (NASCAR), Schumacher (F1), and Rossi (MotoGP).
“It’s hard to even put into words. I just want to enjoy this moment,” a tearful Marquez admitted after extending his lead to 201 points over his brother in second place. “It was incredibly difficult, truly super difficult, but now I feel at peace with myself,” he reflected, recalling the struggles and pain it took to return to the top in such style.