Marc Márquez celebrates his 33rd birthday: the exceptional career of the nine-time world champion

Thirty-three years ago, on February 17, 1993, the man who would leave his mark on the MotoGP Thanks to his determination and talent, the legend Marc Márquez was born in Cervera. The young Spaniard had to wait until he was five years old to get on a mini-bike, cobbled together by his father and grandfather. At just nine, he was already winning national competitions before joining the Spanish championship in 2005, where he was spotted by Repsol.

On April 13, 2008, Marc Márquez competed in his first 125cc World Championship (Moto3) race with the Repsol-KTM team before securing his first world title later that year. He thus became the second youngest world champion, at just 17 years old.

The beginning

In 2013, he made his MotoGP debut with the official Honda HRC team, replacing the legendary Casey Stoner. Success was immediate, as the Spaniard secured his first victory in the premier class at the Circuit of the Americas in only his second race, becoming the youngest rider to reach the top step of the podium.

This first triumph already held the promise of future greatness: a first MotoGP world championship title in 2013, won at just 20 years and 66 days old. A record for precocity still held by Márquez. The following season, the Spaniard pushed the boundaries even further, with ten consecutive victories at the start of the campaign and 13 wins in the second half of the season. A new record.

In 2019, the Catalan rider secured his sixth MotoGP title. It was his last before the injury that would jeopardize his career. On July 19, 2020, Marc Márquez crashed during the Spanish Grand Prix. This incident marked the beginning of a long ordeal.

Upon his return, the magic was no longer there with Honda. After years of successful collaboration, the two parties officially announced their separation.

The Renaissance

Márquez then made the bold move of forgoing his salary to ride the most competitive machine on the grid (the second-best bike, as he didn't immediately ride the factory model). On October 4, 2023, Márquez announced his move to Gresini for the following season. On June 5, 2025, his transfer to Ducati was officially confirmed.

Last season, six years after his last title, his patience was finally rewarded. At the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, the king was back on top. Marc Márquez secured his ninth world title and his seventh in MotoGP, thus equaling his former rival's record. Valentino Rossi.

Records are meant to be broken. Now back at the highest level, will Marc Márquez manage to clinch an eighth MotoGP title to equal the absolute legend of motorcycling, Giacomo Agostini?

Marc Márquez's career in numbers:

• 18 seasons, including 13 in MotoGP;
• 165 podium finishes, including 126 in MotoGP;
• 15 Sprint victories in MotoGP;
• 102 pole positions, including 74 in MotoGP;
• 83 fastest laps in races, including 67 in MotoGP;
• 285 race starts, including 207 in MotoGP;
• 99 Grand Prix victories, including 73 in MotoGP;
• 9 world titles, including 7 in MotoGP.

ALSO READ > Davide Brivio proposes a Grand Prix format to "create more interest"