Marc Marquez wins 2025 MotoGP world championship at Japanese Grand Prix

Marc Marquez completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in MotoGP history on Sunday, clinching his seventh world championship — and his first since 2019 — with a second-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix in Motegi. The Spaniard crossed the line behind Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, sealing an unassailable lead in the standings with five rounds still to go and drawing level with Italian legend Valentino Rossi on the all-time list.

As he crossed the finish line, the 32-year-old Marquez broke down in tears, holding his head in his hands before being greeted by his brother Alex, who had been his closest rival in the title fight but finished sixth. The moment capped off a six-year battle marked by devastating injuries, four surgeries on a broken arm, and more than 100 crashes since his last crown. “It’s impossible even to speak, I just want to enjoy the moment,” Marquez said. “It was super difficult, but now I’m at peace with myself. I did a big mistake in my career, to come back too early from surgery. And then I fight, fight, fight – and I won again.”

The race itself added drama to the championship coronation. Bagnaia, starting from pole after also winning Saturday’s sprint, stormed into the lead and built a comfortable cushion over the field. Marquez slotted into third early on, dueling with compatriot Pedro Acosta before making his move on lap 11. That left him chasing Bagnaia, who appeared to be cruising until smoke briefly billowed from his Ducati late in the race, causing nervous moments in the paddock. The Italian managed to hold on, taking his second win of the season, with Honda’s Joan Mir completing the podium. “I don’t want to take the spotlight from Marc, he deserves the spotlight today,” Bagnaia said afterward.

For Marquez, the victory was less about the race and more about the journey back. After four straight titles from 2016 to 2019, his career seemed derailed by injury. The broken arm he suffered in 2020 required multiple surgeries, and persistent crashes made many doubt whether he could ever return to the top. In 2023, he made the painful decision to leave Honda after 11 years, joining Ducati in a bid to revive his career. This season, he responded with 11 wins and unrelenting consistency, ultimately stretching his championship advantage to 201 points over Alex Marquez.

His emotional triumph was punctuated by a montage on the big screen in Motegi, showing his long road back — 2,184 days between championships — before he added his name once again to MotoGP’s Tower of Champions trophy. “This is for everyone who supported me,” Marquez said. “It’s not just my title, it’s ours.”