AUTOhebdo's Top 50 Drivers of 2025 – 2nd: Marc Márquez

Notation method: The journalists at AUTOhebdo each submitted their top 50 from a pre-defined list of 80 names. The driver in first place received 50 points, down to the fiftieth, who received one point. The average of the votes produced a ranking based on the driver's (or crew's) performance in their category during the year 2025.

2. Marc Marquez

After five seasons away from the top, Marc Márquez reminded the entire paddock MotoGP that he remained an undisputed champion. In his first year with the official Ducati team, the Catalan rider quickly returned to winning ways, in a context marked by the struggles of his main rivals. The 2024 world champion, Francesco Bagnaia, now his teammate at Ducati, as well as the reigning champion, Jorge Martín, who moved to Aprilia, both had very difficult seasons. An ideal scenario for Márquez, back on top in his first appearance in red, without any truly lasting competition.

On the 2025 grid, few riders have managed to beat Marc Márquez fair and square. In Austin, after a daring gamble on the grid, the Spaniard made a rare mistake by running wide onto a tricky white line. In Jerez, another error caused his second retirement of the season, while his brother Alex secured his first MotoGP victory with Gresini. In France, the tire choice didn't prove as successful as in Texas. Marc Márquez had to settle for second place, behind a heroic Johann Zarco, inspired by the Le Mans crowd. After the race, the number 93 admitted to having ridden cautiously, for fear of making another mistake.

Forced to withdraw from the end of the season, but still champions.

The rest of the season alternated between displays of dominance and reminders of the competition. At Aragon, Marc Márquez delivered a masterclass. At Mugello, Bagnaia took the lead from the opening laps but couldn't shake off the Spaniard. In Hungary, Marco Bezzecchi suffered the same fate, unable to keep pace with the Catalan. In Barcelona, ​​Alex Márquez joined the short list of riders who have beaten his brother fair and square, simply being faster that day. Misano would mark Marc Márquez's final victory of the season.

In Japan, Francesco Bagnaia, despite a nightmarish campaign, rose from the ashes. The Italian secured a commanding one-two finish ahead of Márquez, who nevertheless clinched his seventh MotoGP world title. The Indonesian Grand Prix brought the Spaniard's season to a much darker close. Marco Bezzecchi, dominant at the start of the weekend, had a poor start and then collided with Marc Márquez while trying to overtake. The impact resulted in a double retirement and sent the Catalan rider into another period of recovery. Despite this disappointing end, Marc Márquez concluded the 2025 season with his ninth world title across all categories.

AUTOhebdo's Top 50 Drivers of 2025 – 3rd: Lando Norris