Marc Marquez says Thai GP win is his best MotoGP feeling since 2020

Marquez reflects on his dominant Thai GP victory, saying he hasn't felt this good on a MotoGP bike since his fateful 2020 Spanish GP crash.

Marc Marquez of Spain and Ducati Lenovo Team smiles as he walks up to the podium to collect his championship trophy during the MotoGP PT Grand Prix of Thailand at Buriram International Circuit in Buriram on March 2, 2025. Photo by Kaikungwon Duanjumroon/Nur

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Marc Marquez says his dominant performance at the 2025 Thai Grand Prix gave him the best feeling he has had on a MotoGP bike since the 2020 Spanish GP, when he was still with Honda.

The eight-time world champion made a stunning debut with the factory Ducati team, securing pole position and winning both the sprint and main races. His victories at Buriram put him at the top of the MotoGP world championship standings for the first time since 2019, when he last won the premier-class title.

Reflecting on his return to form, Marquez admitted that his Thai GP weekend brought back sensations he had not experienced since the infamous 2020 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. That race saw him recover from an early off-track excursion to fight for victory before a dramatic crash left him with a severe arm injury that derailed his career.

Marquez: "The last time I felt like this was Jerez 2020"

Speaking about his breakthrough weekend, Marquez acknowledged that his performance in Thailand felt like a return to his peak.

“The last time I felt like this on a bike was Jerez 2020,” he said. “That was the last time I felt super good. Not just here, but throughout the entire pre-season.”

Marquez highlighted the importance of Ducati’s winter testing, particularly at the Sepang circuit, which has historically been a difficult track for him.

“For me, the Malaysia test was more important than here [Thailand] because Malaysia is a tricky circuit for me, and I felt super good,” he explained. “So, since Jerez 2020, I haven’t felt like this. I feel calm, I feel relaxed… I don’t know, I can’t explain it.”

Marquez emphasized that he is no longer focused on achieving specific goals but is instead riding purely for enjoyment.

“The key point is I’m riding because I enjoy this work,” he said. “I’m not riding to achieve a goal. I’ve already achieved many things in my life. Now, I understand that I will enjoy it. If I can fight for the championship until the end and it happens, that’s welcome. If not, it won’t change me.”

Marquez says Malaysia test proved his potential

Marquez’s dominance in Thailand was foreshadowed by his strong showing in the final pre-season test at Buriram, but he believes his performance in Malaysia was the real indicator of his potential.

“To start the season like this, with a double victory, 37 points, and beginning this new journey in this way, gives me really good feedback,” he said.

“I knew Thailand was a good chance to fight for victory because in Malaysia, I already felt good. If I feel good in Malaysia, it means I’m in good shape.”

The Ducati rider noted that his competitive speed at Sepang reassured him that he was ready to challenge for wins, even on tracks where he previously struggled.

“In Malaysia, I was very close to the level of Alex Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia,” he continued. “And here in Thailand, from the beginning, I felt super good.”

While Marquez has made an emphatic start to his Ducati career, he remains cautious about the long season ahead.

“I need to keep going, keep pushing because it’s only the first race, and I know that from one day to the next, everything can change,” he said. “But I’m enjoying it, and I will try to enjoy the whole season.”