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Marc Marquez Eyes Valentino Rossi’s Record as Ducati Era Begins

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Marc Marquez is on the brink of MotoGP history, entering the new season with a shot at matching Valentino Rossi’s record of seven world titles. But as the Spanish rider gets to grips with his new Ducati machine, the road to glory is anything but smooth.

Marquez, who dominated MotoGP for six seasons with Honda, made his highly anticipated debut in Ducati-Lenovo colours at the Sepang pre-season test in Malaysia. The 31-year-old Catalonian was seen twisting his new ride around the 5.5km circuit, adapting to unfamiliar machinery ahead of the season opener in Thailand.

Despite the transition, Marquez wasted no time proving his credentials. He clocked the second-fastest lap of the day, posting 1:57.606, just behind Fabio Quartararo’s 1:57.555 on the Yamaha. Meanwhile, his younger brother Alex Marquez, also on a Ducati, finished third-fastest with a time of 1:57.738.

While Marquez impressed, reigning world champion Jorge Martin’s pre-season got off to a brutal start. The Aprilia rider crashed twice at Sepang, first losing control at turn five, before a violent high-side crash later in the session sent him flying into the air.

Testing was red-flagged as Martin was taken to hospital for checks on his left foot and right hand injuries. MotoGP later confirmed that he was undergoing tests, wishing him a speedy recovery.

With Marquez eyeing Rossi’s record, Martin aiming to defend his title, and Quartararo proving Yamaha still has pace, the 2025 MotoGP season is shaping up to be one of the most intense in years.

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