CRUTCHLOW SAYS MARQUEZ IS CLOSE TO COMPLETING REMARKABLE TITLE COMEBACK

Cal Crutchlow says Marc Marquez’s latest MotoGP title charge is remarkable, even by the Spaniard’s standards. After recovering from a record 102-point deficit, Marquez is now close to securing a tenth world championship overall and an eighth in the premier class.

Crutchlow raced alongside Marquez at Honda from 2015 to 2020, taking three victories with LCR. He later became a Yamaha test rider and wildcard, while Marquez endured several seasons of arm and shoulder problems. Marquez ended a 1,000-day winless run after moving to Gresini Ducati in 2024, then dominated the following season with the factory team.

This campaign began very differently. A shoulder injury sustained at Mandalika continued to affect Marquez in 2026, as Aprilia’s RS-GP won five of the first seven Grands Prix. Marquez returned from surgery to address a nerve problem in his right arm at Mugello, leaving Italy 102 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. A double victory at Balaton Park began his climb back, while crashes and errors among the Aprilia riders helped shift the title fight.

“Marc Marquez never ceases to amaze, so it’s difficult to say that he would not come back,” Crutchlow told MotoGP.com in Qatar. He called the season “an incredible title battle” and said it was a shame Jorge Martin crashed in Australia.

By the Qatar weekend, Crutchlow felt Marquez had “all but” wrapped up the championship. Marquez missed his first opportunity to clinch there, but a win in the next Portimao Sprint would make him only the second rider, after Giacomo Agostini, to claim eight premier-class titles. Crutchlow said he hoped Marquez could finish the job in Qatar, adding: “If not, I’m sure he’s going to do it in the next ones.”

Qatar’s return to the calendar was also welcome to Crutchlow, who praised the circuit and its night-time spectacle. He was at the event after Honda invited him to support Jake Dixon, making his HRC debut, following Crutchlow’s six substitute appearances for LCR earlier in the season.

“Honda asked me to come this weekend, whether it was to be in a riding capacity or something else, I was open to both,” he said. “Jake’s on the bike this weekend and super happy to help him.” Crutchlow added that he was glad to advise Dixon and help Honda’s engineers understand the rider’s perspective.

Dixon ended the weekend 14th and last after losing time to an early mistake, but his pace was comparable to that of full-time Honda riders Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco.