– It has been 14 years since Marc Marquez entered the premier class of the Motorcycle World Championship. Since then, he has been rewriting the record books. What Marquez is capable of on the racetrack has been analyzed countless times. From his spectacular saves to his famous block passes to his impressive speed, the Spaniard has become a very important part of MotoGP history in many ways.
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Injuries have made Marquez more determined than ever to fight his way back to the top. His title win in 2025 was further proof of his persistence. And: With increasing experience, the seven-time MotoGP world champion has become less prone to mistakes and crashes. Nowadays, Marquez’s physical condition is the only remaining weak point in his repertoire.
Photo series: Marc Marquez: His path to the seventh MotoGP title
The fact that Marquez is fully involved in the fight for the world championship in the current 2026 season despite anything but one hundred percent fitness and after missing two Grands Prix says a lot about his level. But Marquez’s greatest strengths are not limited to the racetrack. Hardly anyone can explain better what makes the 33-year-old Spaniard so special behind the scenes than his crew chief Marco Rigamonti.
The collaboration between Rigamonti and Marquez began when the MotoGP superstar from Spain joined the Ducati factory team for the 2025 season. Although the two have been working together for less than two years, they quickly built a good relationship. Meanwhile, Marquez counts Rigamonti among his closest circle.
Exceptionally good at pinpointing problems
Rigamonti has worked with several race winners during his career in the premier class of motorcycle racing. In his opinion, Marquez stands out above all for his technical feedback. In a racing series where the margins are so small, Marquez’s precise feedback makes it easier for Ducati to fix weaknesses and focus on the decisive strengths.
“He knows very well what happened on the motorcycle. He understands that very well,” Rigamonti explains in an interview for Motorsport.com, sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com in the Motorsport Network. “He is able to check the data and mark the spot where he thinks: ‘Here I had this problem.’ That makes it easier for us to understand and find a solution.”
“He always says: ‘I felt it this way, but maybe I was wrong.’ That helps us understand what is happening on the motorcycle. And when we ask him for more details, he is more precise compared to other riders. That helps us with the analysis and, if necessary, also with fixing the problem,” explains the experienced crew chief.
Rigamonti says Marquez is exceptionally good at pinpointing exactly where he gains or loses time, which is a great help for Ducati in the fight against Aprilia in the 2026 season: “He is able to analyze where he loses time compared to the others. If he loses time because of himself or his motorcycle, then that is our task. But he analyzes precisely where we are strong and where we fall off. So that helps us a lot to improve the motorcycle.”
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Rigamonti also feels that Marquez never leaves anything unused and every time he leaves the pit lane, he gets the maximum out of the motorcycle: “What is very good about him as a rider and what we like very much: As soon as he puts on the helmet, you know that he always gives 100 percent in every situation.”
“That is the best for us, because if the result does not come, you can never say: ‘Maybe the rider could have done more.’ In his case, that does not apply. He always exploits 100 percent of the motorcycle’s potential,” says Rigamonti.
Always honest
Over the past 18 months, Rigamonti has witnessed up close how Marquez dominated the MotoGP World Championship, how he suffered from self-doubt due to another shoulder injury, and how he fought back after the recent operation. During this entire time, the Italian says, the nine-time motorcycle world champion never tried to hide what was really going on.
“If the lack of performance in a certain corner was related to his physical condition, he was honest and said: ‘I am not riding well at the moment.’ So that is always clear,” says Rigamonti.
“Also last year, when he was fit, he had no problem saying it if the problem in a corner was related to his riding style. This year, the only thing we saw was his facial expression. He was not happy. That means he clearly felt that something was physically wrong.”
“In Mugello, we could see from his facial expression that he was quite satisfied because he realized that he might have fixed the problem. You can see his attitude immediately on his face because he is an honest guy. If he is not satisfied, that is immediately understandable,” explains Rigamonti.
This honesty also creates a friendlier atmosphere within the team. And that is exactly what Rigamonti appreciates about Marquez: “As a person, he is honest. You always know what he thinks and what he does. He really enjoys spending time with us because he knows: When everyone around him is happy, the atmosphere is good, and that has a positive effect on performance. He is a nice guy who really enjoys being with us.”
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