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Spanish motorsport legend Fernando Alonso has lauded compatriot Marc Marquez following his triumph in the 2025 MotoGP World Championship, describing the achievement as exceptional. Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 world champion, highlighted Marquez’s extraordinary mental strength and discipline in orchestrating a remarkable comeback. This victory marks a significant return to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing for Marquez, who overcame a career-threatening injury sustained in 2020 and a prolonged period of uncompetitive machinery.
Marquez’s journey to the 2025 title, secured in a factory Ducati seat, represents a formidable recovery from the severe shoulder injury suffered at the 2020 Jerez Grand Prix. This incident initiated a challenging phase in his career, marked by multiple surgeries, extensive rehabilitation, and a Honda bike that progressively fell behind its rivals. For years, Marquez grappled with a lack of results, prompting questions about his future in the sport he once dominated.
Despite the formidable obstacles, Marquez famously eschewed any thoughts of retirement, making a pivotal decision to join the satellite Gresini team for the 2024 season. This strategic move proved immediately successful, rekindling his winning form and ultimately paving the way for his coveted factory ride with Ducati, MotoGP’s leading manufacturer. His resilience and talent ultimately saw him clinch his seventh MotoGP crown.
Speaking on a new documentary produced by Spanish broadcaster DAZN, Alonso emphasized the rare qualities Marquez exhibited. “It’s exceptional because, apart from the natural talent you may have as a driver, you have to have extraordinary mental strength and discipline,” Alonso stated. He further explained, “There’s no such thing as a ‘normal’ person, which is why I say it’s exceptional to go five years without winning a title and not lose an ounce of determination, competitive spirit, and, of course, talent.”
Alonso, whose own career has seen periods of immense success interspersed with significant challenges, drew parallels to the mental fortitude required at the elite level. He underscored the immense difficulty of constant self-improvement for a world champion. “Improving on a world champion is very difficult. Getting it into your head and having the discipline to improve every day to improve on that version, I think only a few people can do that. That’s why I think what Marc has done this year is within the reach of very few,” the Aston Martin F1 driver added.
Alonso’s own career trajectory provides a poignant backdrop to his observations. After securing back-to-back F1 titles with Renault in 2005-06, he later endured a challenging stint with McLaren during its ill-fated engine partnership with Honda from 2015, which ultimately led to a sabbatical from the sport. Despite his reputation as one of his generation’s greatest drivers, Alonso has now gone 12 years without winning a Grand Prix, having returned to F1 in 2021 with Alpine and subsequently moving to Aston Martin.
Reflecting on the struggles faced by elite competitors when their equipment proves uncompetitive, Alonso elaborated on the internal battles. “When you haven’t won in a while or you don’t have the right equipment… you need to have conversations with yourself many times at home,” he explained. He described the solitary grind of training and the constant self-affirmation required: “You have to shower, look at your scars… and talk to yourself to remind yourself that you are still that person, not the person who right now can’t get the results.”
Marquez’s path to recovery was fraught with setbacks. Following his initial 2020 injury, he missed the remainder of that season and significant portions of both 2021 and 2022 due to persistent complications. A further setback occurred in 2023 when he fractured his thumb at the Portuguese Grand Prix, underscoring the physical and mental toll of his prolonged absence from peak performance.
Alonso, recalling his own F1 comeback, acknowledged the immense challenge Marquez faced in returning to championship-winning form. He described a cognitive “reset” that occurs during a break from elite competition. “When you take a break, you reset. It’s like riding a bike again and having to put training wheels back on because you’ve lost your balance,” he noted, explaining that the body and brain need to “wake up again” to regain those critical tenths of a second.
The two-time F1 champion also highlighted a profound difference in appreciating success the second time around. He observed that drivers often know only success on their ascent to the top, making winning seem normal. However, after enduring hardship, victories or even podiums acquire a new significance. Alonso cited his eight podium finishes with Aston Martin in 2023 as an “explosion of joy,” contrasting his ecstatic reactions with the more subdued celebrations of rivals.
This renewed appreciation for achievement was also evident in Marquez’s 2024 season, where, despite not always winning, his podium finishes sparked visible delight. Alonso concluded that experiencing success after a period of struggle allows competitors to “enjoy it” differently, recognizing the immense effort and resilience required to return to the forefront of their sport. Marquez’s 2025 title epitomizes this extraordinary journey.
