Marc Marquez believes that Diogo Moreira’s journey to a MotoGP title will be defined by how he handles the pressures that come with stepping up to the sport’s top tier.
Marquez knows what it takes to reach the very top, having won seven premier class titles and two more in the lower categories. His track record speaks for itself, and his advice carries weight, especially for a young rider entering the sport’s top level.
Moreira has already shown he can handle adversity, coming from 61 points down to win the 2025 Moto2 championship by 30 points. That performance caught Honda’s attention, leading them to sign him for a multi-year deal and place him at LCR for the upcoming season.
Speaking about what it takes to succeed at the highest level, Marquez offered some insight from his own experience:
Marquez sees mental strength as the key difference between a fast rider and a MotoGP champion
Following the Thailand GP, Moreira and Marquez joined 2025 Moto3 champion and 2026 Moto2 rider Jose Antonio Rueda at a sponsor event. While there, Moreira asked Marquez what sets apart a quick rider from someone who can actually win titles.
For Marquez, it’s not just about speed. He thinks champions are the ones who handle pressure best, especially over the long haul of a 22-race season.
“We’re all fast riders on the grid, including you,” Marquez told Moreira via MARCA. “We riders know how to ride a bike, from Moto3 to MotoGP.
“But then managing moments of pressure, moments of uncertainty, tyre management – it’s not just about being fast. It’s about managing the different situations that come up during a 22-race season.
“That’s where the difference between a champion and a fast rider lies. In testing, everyone is fast. Then on race weekends, it’s more difficult.”
Tyre management and handling uncertainty are what separate the best
Marquez’s approach to tyre management isn’t just something he talks about—it’s a key part of how he dominated the 2025 season after joining Ducati. He picked up 11 Grand Prix wins and 14 Sprint Race victories across the 18 rounds he competed in out of the 22 that year.
The Cervera native started strong, but had to adjust his approach after a few early setbacks. Instead of pushing hard from the start, Marquez realised it was better to build into races gradually, focusing on consistency over outright pace.
He crashed out from the lead at both the Americas and Spanish Grands Prix in 2025, each time trying to push too hard before it made sense to do so. Michelin’s tyres also add another layer of complexity, requiring riders to constantly manage grip throughout a race.
MotoGP’s spec tyres need careful handling if they’re going to hold up over full race distance without dropping off late on. There isn’t a rider in the paddock who can go flat-out from start to finish without feeling that impact by the end.
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