MotoGP - No more fun! Marc Marquez announces: "I want to become MotoGP World Champion in Japan"

The time has come: After almost exactly six years of waiting, Marc Marquez can once again be crowned MotoGP World Champion next Sunday (September 28), thus completing "one of the greatest comebacks in the sport's history," as outgoing title holder Jorge Martin aptly put it on Thursday in Motegi . A very special moment in the 76-year history of the Motorcycle World Championship is just around the corner, as Marquez himself emphasized again.

"The last five years have been extremely difficult for me," the MotoGP superstar reflected on Thursday at the Mobility Resort, located about 120 kilometers north of Tokyo, recalling a long period of suffering that began with a hard crash in the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix . "You could say I lost two or three years of my career because I was at home more often than here at the track. I don't want to repeat that experience, but I've learned a lot for my personal life and am now enjoying my second life as a MotoGP rider. Being able to put all these injuries behind me in the best possible way is very important to me."

While at one point also wrestling with the end of his career , Marquez made an impressive comeback at the top in 2025. Already 120 points ahead at the summer break, his ninth world championship had been on the horizon for several months. But now, being so close to achieving it doesn't leave the 32-year-old from Cervera completely cold. "It's a fantastic feeling that something big can happen here in Motegi. Especially because I've already been world champion here three times," he gave an insight into his feelings.

Marquez was crowned champion at Motegi in 2014, 2016, and 2018, each time with race wins. Now, that scenario could repeat itself. There was no sign of nervousness on Thursday from the number 93 car, and Davide Tardozzi shared that impression. "No, not at all," said the Ducati team manager in the MotoGP format 'Gear Up'. After all, Marquez deserves this title win like no other, and he knows "that he has the same potential as before his crash in 2020. That's why he's very relaxed." Find out exactly what it takes to win the title here:

How does Marquez plan to approach the Japanese Grand Prix? Quite simply: "I'll take it day by day. I have to understand Friday first, then Saturday. Qualifying and the sprint will be crucial. Only then will I see if I have a chance on Sunday. We need to get into Q2, place ourselves on the first or, at worst, the second row, and then win the sprint or at least finish second. Because Alex [Marquez] will deliver in both races."

If Marquez finishes ahead of his younger brother in Saturday's sprint (start at 8:00 a.m. CET), he can definitely secure the world championship title on his own with a win in Sunday's Grand Prix (start at 7:00 a.m. CET). And that is his stated goal. "We want to become world champions here," Marquez stated unequivocally. But if that doesn't happen, it wouldn't be the end of the world: "We'll give it our best and then we'll see if there's something to celebrate on Sunday. If not, I can wait a little longer. The most important thing is that it will happen sooner or later."

What do you think: Will Marc Marquez be crowned MotoGP World Champion again in Motegi, or could Alex Marquez win the title again? Share your opinion in the comments!