MotoGP will not intervene to “stop” Marc Marquez’s dominance, says CEO

MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has assured that Dorna will not intervene to “stop” Marc Marquez’s absolute dominance in the world championship, adding that the 32-year-old is not getting “the global importance he deserves”.

On Wednesday, Ezpeleta attended the launch event for the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix at the iconic Miro Foundation, a few metres from the original Olympic mountain track where 23 editions of the Spanish Grand Prix were held between 1950 and 1976.

At the end of the presentation Dorna CEO Ezpeleta held a meeting with a small group of media outlets, including Autosport, in which the championship’s top executive was asked about the possibility of Marquez leaving Barcelona with a chance of winning the title at the next race in Misano.

“The way things have been going, it’s not something that takes us by surprise. But we can’t say it’s a done deal until it happens; anything can happen,” he said. “He can’t be champion in Barcelona, so we’re not going to think about it now.

“A few years ago, when there were many grand prix winners each year, people said that MotoGP lacked a hero. 

“Now we have one, he wins every race, and the same people say that we will have a champion too soon. I don’t think so. Marc is having an extraordinary season, and when he has to be champion, he will be.”

Ezpeleta himself admitted that some people find MotoGP ‘boring’ because of Marquez’s winning run, but stressed that Dorna has no intention of curbing his dominance.

“Absolutely not, this is the world championship and the best riders are the ones who win,” he said. “The only way Marquez will stop winning is if another rider comes along who believes he can beat him and has the tools to do so. We will never, ever stop a rider from winning.

“At the time, we introduced concessions, and manufacturers such as Aprilia have taken a huge step forward. Personally, I believe that the new technical regulations for 2027 will change the scenario, but we’ll see.

“We have to do things so that everyone is on the same footing, but the show cannot be changed, we are not thinking about it and we are not going to do it.”

Ezpeleta doesn’t want to “make comparisons” between Rossi and Marquez

It has been 10 years since the infamous ‘clash’ between Marquez and Valentino Rossi at Sepang, an incident that ultimately led to a rift between the Italian legend and MotoGP.

Asked if Marquez – now at his peak – can plug the gap left by Rossi, Ezpeleta said: “I don’t like to make comparisons. Valentino won many titles and achieved a lot, at the beginning and then extending his career. They are two great champions, and making comparisons only serves to increase the ‘mess’ surrounding these figures. 

“Marc is Marc, who is very good. And Vale, too, and that’s not up for debate.”

Valentino Rossi, Yamaha Factory Racing, Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

What is clear is that Marquez has returned stronger than ever after coming close to retirement due to injury, and now ranks among the greatest athletes in history.

“Personally, I was sure he would return to this level. I followed his entire injury and recovery, and seeing him and the doctors, I knew he would,” said Ezpeleta.

“He has also managed his career very well, leaving a contract that paid him a lot of money [Honda] to go to a place that was important to him [Ducati]. When someone is so clear about something, it means they know they can do it. 

“Marquez has not been given the global importance he deserves.”