Marc Marquez made the shocking move to the Ducati factory team for 2025 (Image: Getty)
British former MotoGP star and TNT Sports Pundit Neil Hodgson believes – but does not expect the six-time champion to change his ways. All eyes will be on the fiery Spaniard this year, after he shockingly replaced and up-and-coming star Enea Bastianini in the Ducati factory team.
Marquez was crowned champion six times between 2013 and 2019, but a horrific run of injuries has stopped him from adding to his prizes. Last year, he showed plenty of glimpses that his best racing has returned, finishing third behind Martin and new team-mate Francesco Bagnaia.
Ever since his move to Ducati’s factory team, Marquez is the heavy favourite to finish the 2025 campaign at the top of the standings. Hodgson believes all of Marquez’s difficulties and setbacks have been building up to this year. Yet, he also admitted that 32-year-old Marquez’s style means he could become his own worst enemny.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport ahead of the start of the 2025 MotoGP campaign, the TNT pundit said: “He is [trying too hard], but I can sit here and say that, and that’s a criticism. But he’s won six MotoGP world titles from trying too hard. So many times he would override the bike and miraculously get away with it, so you can’t change Marc Marquez.
“He will override, he will make mistakes, he will run into people, but that’s how he does it. He’s got an incredible drive, obviously an incredible talent and that’s why, I’ve got to say, that’s why I love him. That’s why I love watching him, because you don’t know what you’re going to get.
“He could be back in fifth place with five laps to go and he’s not beaten, he still thinks he can put five miraculous laps together and somehow win it, and he has done things like that in the past. So that’s why he stands out so much. He’s such a unique rider. He really is.”
As well as Bagnaia, Marquez will still have to contend with the likes of predecessor Martin, who has joined Aprilia, up-and-coming prodigy Pedro Acosta and 2021 champion Fabio Quatararo, who will be hungry to prove the doubters wrong, after finishing in a chastening 13th place last year.
Neil Hodgson is a MotoGP pundit and commentator for TNT Sports (Image: TNT Sports)
While the competition will still be fierce, Hodgson thinks all the pressure has to be saddled onto Marquez’s shoulders. Referring to Marquez’s last World Championship triumph in 2019, Hodgson said: “He absolutely dominated that season. Since then, it’s been a horror story of serious injuries, running for the wrong manufacturer, having to reinvent himself, loads of operations, signing for a satellite team, all to this point.
“Everything from 2019 is sort of built to the start of 2025, where he’s now on the best bike in the best team with an incredibly strong team-mate in Francesco Bagnaia. The headline is, can Marc Marquez win his ninth title, because now there are no excuses.
“He’s on the best bike in the best team. So he’s got everything he needs. Obviously, his team-mate, Bagnaia has won two Moto GP World titles. For him to cement his legacy as one of the greats, he has to beat Marc Marquez. Bagnaia is super bright, probably one of the more articulate riders. So just the prospect of them two obviously both wanting to achieve the same goal. I think we’re going to have some fantastic racing. And I think we’re going to see some really good battles.”
Watch all the action from the 2025 MotoGP season live on TNT Sports and starting with the Thailand Grand Prix on Friday 28th February. TNT Sports and is the home of motorbikes with coverage of every race from MotoGP, FIM World Superbikes, Bennetts British Superbikes and FIM Speedway GP. Follow to keep up with all the action on social