Just a week after clinching his seventh premier class title, Marc Marquez was sidelined for the final four rounds of the 2025 MotoGP season. He has since opened up about feeling relieved by the timing of his injury.
The opening 17 rounds of that year had been a dream return for Marquez. After switching to Ducati in 2024 following a difficult spell in his career, he found himself back on top and chasing another championship.
But things took a turn at the next round in Indonesia. Early contact with Marco Bezzecchi left him with a broken collarbone, forcing him to miss not only that race but also several more as he recovered.
It’s been a tough recovery process for Marquez, now 33. Even six months on from the injury, there are still signs this season that he hasn’t quite returned to full strength.
Marc Marquez explains how injury brought relief after the 2025 Indonesian Grand Prix
During an appearance on the Tengo un Plan podcast, Marquez was asked to look back on two key moments from his 2025 season: the world title win in Japan and the injury that followed just a week later in Indonesia.
In a surprising admission, the Spaniard said he actually felt relieved to be ruled out for the rest of the season, explaining that at the time he had no interest in racing in those final four rounds.
Reflecting on a photo of him celebrating with Ducati staff at Motegi, Marquez said: “The lap of honour, the moment of celebration, that’s what I remember most.
“More from the footage I’ve seen afterwards than from the moment itself. I promise you; I don’t remember the moment itself, and I wish I did.
It frustrates me, and I’d like to remember it and know: did I say this, or did I say that, and did I say the other thing? I don’t remember; I mean, I remember it more from the footage I’ve seen, but I only stayed switched on after that moment.
“There was a race the following week, which was the one where I got injured in Indonesia. I felt empty. I didn’t feel like riding a motorbike; that had never happened to me before.
“Normally, I’d win a championship and say: ‘I want to win the next race’. Instead, I was left thinking, ‘I want to go on holiday.’ I went, but I was injured. But it’s true that it was a relief.”
Split opinions emerge over Marc Marquez’s 2026 title prospects in the MotoGP Paddock
Marquez has struggled to hit the ground running this season, with ongoing fitness issues and Aprilia’s rise making his title defence a tough ask so far.
While VR46 boss Pablo Nieto still believes the Ducati star remains the rider to beat this year, not everyone in the paddock is as convinced.
Carlos Checa, now a commentator after his riding days, initially backed Marquez to repeat his past success. However, he’s since changed tune, saying he’d be ‘surprised’ if Marquez finishes on top but that the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix should provide a clearer view of where he stands.
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