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The MotoGP world championship battle is heading into its final stretch, with just two points separating title rivals Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez ahead of the decisive final five rounds of the season, kicking off this weekend at Phillip Island.
Seven-time premier class champion Marquez has never lost a direct head-to-head title fight. Meanwhile, Ducati riders have held the crown uninterrupted since 2021. For his part, Martin—who claimed the 2024 championship with Pramac Ducati—is now chasing a historic maiden premier-class triumph for Aprilia.
During the 2024 campaign, Marquez made his Ducati debut with Gresini following his long-term tenure at Honda. Although the Spaniard was riding the previous-spec GP23 while Martin, Pecco Bagnaia, and Enea Bastianini piloted factory GP24 machinery, Marc had full access to the Italian manufacturer's telemetry and knows his rival's capabilities inside out.
“To me, Martin is an extraordinary talent,” Marc Marquez told motorsport.com. “Last season was quite tough for him due to injuries. However, when I joined Ducati and had the chance to look over everyone's data, Jorge was among those who impressed me the most with his riding style and what he is capable of on track.”
“His style is very similar to mine, with a massive emphasis on aggressive braking. It's true that his body position on the bike is shifted quite far back, but he never backs down—he's a true warrior,” the Spanish ace added.
Jorge Martin was quick to return the praise: “It's always great to hear such high praise from a rider like Marquez. It's an honour to fight for the title against him. I truly believe Marc makes me a better racer because to beat him, you have to bring your absolute best. I hope our rivalry continues for many years to come.”
The closest challenger to the leading duo in the standings is Martin's Aprilia teammate Marco Bezzecchi, who sits 46 points off the top. Another rider on the grid whose raw talent Marquez rates exceptionally high is his future Ducati teammate, Pedro Acosta.
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