Marc Marquez has turned a 102-point deficit into a championship position that leaves him on the brink of another MotoGP title. Cal Crutchlow, who knows him from their Honda years, believes this latest return to the front is entirely consistent with Marquez’s career. Crutchlow said Marquez never ceases to amaze, making another comeback difficult to rule out.

The two riders shared Honda machinery from 2015 to 2020, with Crutchlow taking three race wins for LCR. The Briton later moved into a Yamaha test and wildcard role, while Marquez endured several difficult seasons marked by arm and shoulder injuries. His return to winning came after a 1,000-day drought, following his move from Honda to Gresini Ducati in 2024. He then dominated the previous season’s championship with the factory team.

The 2026 campaign began in a very different way. The shoulder injury suffered at Mandalika continued to affect Marquez, while Aprilia claimed five wins in the opening seven Grands Prix. Marquez returned at Mugello after surgery for a nerve problem in his right arm, leaving Italy 102 points behind then-championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.

The Balaton Park turnaround

Victory at Balaton Park launched a relentless comeback. Accidents and mistakes from the Aprilia riders helped Marquez reduce the deficit, but Crutchlow focused on the intensity of the contest, calling it an incredible title battle. Marquez missed his first chance to seal the championship in Qatar, yet Crutchlow still considered the title effectively his to lose.

A win in the Portimao Sprint would make Marquez only the second rider to reach eight premier-class titles, after Giacomo Agostini. It would be the next major milestone in a career that already includes the previous season’s championship with the factory team.

Crutchlow’s role alongside Dixon

While assessing Marquez’s season, Crutchlow also returned to the paddock to support Jake Dixon during his HRC debut. Honda asked him to help both the rider and the engineers, offering advice and the perspective of an experienced rider. Crutchlow had already made six stand-in appearances for LCR earlier in the season.

Dixon finished 14th and last after an early mistake cost him time. His pace, however, was comparable with that of Honda’s full-time riders Diogo Moreira and Johann Zarco. The result therefore tells only part of the story of his first race weekend with HRC.