Anyone who knows motorsport knows Marc Marquez, but they may also be wondering where he’s been for the past few years.
The Spaniard broke record after record on his way into MotoGP and has eight world titles, but his controversial clash with Valentino Rossi in 2015 was one that transcended the sport.
That bitter rivalry took his and the sport’s fame to new heights, and he rode the wave to four more world titles before it all came crashing down – quite literally – in 2020.
Speaking to talkSPORT about how it all went wrong, former Superbike world champion turned pundit Neil Hodgson explained all in conversation with Jon Jackson at the Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
“To explain it simply, he’s the greatest motorcycle racer I’ve ever seen,” Hodgson began.
“The problem was he was so fast, so dominant, but he was always prepared to take too much risk, so he crashed a lot.
“We always said the only person who can beat Marc Marquez is Marc Marquez, and eventually he’s going to hit the ground hard enough and he’s going to injure himself.
“That’s what happened in 2020 when he broke his arm, but in typical Marc Marquez style, he had a quick operation, as in the next day, and then tried to ride three days after.
“Unfortunately that didn’t turn out too well and it meant he re-injured the arm – shock – and then it dragged on for years with multiple operations.”
Marquez’s injuries coincided with Honda’s lack of form, and things went from bad to worse, dropping from seventh, to 13th, and then 14th in the standings over the course of three years.
It looked like retirement was very much on the cards, with Marquez possessing the war wounds to prove it, yet he went for one more, albeit the most gruesome yet.
Hodgson explained: “It got to the point where it was either retire or have one last operation where they essentially had to saw his arm off, rotate it 30 degrees, and put it all back together.
“To cut a long story short, they did that, he’s come back and he’s as fast as he’s ever been. The man is incredible.”
Marquez swapped to Ducati last season, joining their satellite team and winning three races this term to prove he still has it.
This term he’s up with the main squad in red, and has won two from two, including victories in both sprint races.
His ninth world title is now in sight, putting him level with his old rival Rossi, although Hodgson believes he’s already ahead of the Italian legend when it comes to the sport’s greatest of all time.
“He’s way ahead of Valentino Rossi as a motorcycle racer, Rossi has more world titles, nine, but ask anyone who knows anything about motorcycle racing, when it comes to sheer speed and talent and bravery, Marquez trumps Valentino,” he said.
“Where Valentino trumps Marquez was charisma, he was the show, and he put MotoGP on the map, but for out and out racecraft, speed and talent, I’ve got to say Marquez is head and shoulders above him.”
