Marc Marquez, despite facing significant injuries and setbacks, has had a lasting impact on MotoGP since his debut in 2013. Jim Redman initially doubted Marquez's ability to handle MotoGP's risks but later recognized his extraordinary talent.
Key points
Marc Marquez debuted in MotoGP in 2013
He suffered a crash in 2011 causing double vision
Marquez has 32 DNFs in 210 starts
He missed 30 races from 2020 to 2023 due to injury
Jim Redman recognized Marquez's talent after initial doubts
Mentioned in this story
Jim Redman
Marc MarquezMotoGP
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Jim Redman once questioned whether Marc Marquez could handle the risks of MotoGP, but it didnāt take long for him to see just how talented he was.
Back in 2011, while still racing in Moto2, Marquez suffered a crash at the Malaysian GP that resulted in double vision and forced him out of action for five months. Despite that setback, he went on to win the title in 2012 and moved up to MotoGP the following year.
Since then, heās had 32 DNFs in 210 starts and missed 30 races between 2020 and 2023 due mostly to a serious arm injury. But even with those absences, his impact on the sport hasnāt faded.
Jim Redman on how Marc Marquez changed his view of crashing in MotoGP
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Photo by Gold & Goose Photography/Getty Images
Redman spoke with MARCA about how his early opinion of Marquez was shaped by a style that looked reckless but soon revealed something more. In time, he saw that the Spaniardās control, especially at tracks like Sachsenring and COTA, set him apart.
Those two circuits have become strongholds for Marquez, who has collected 15 premier class wins between them. Even in races where the results didnāt go his way, like the 2024 Grand Prix of the Americas or the 2023 German Grand Prix, he still managed to leave an impact.
āIāll tell you the truth: The first time I saw Marc MĆ”rquez, I thought he was a daredevil. Heād crash, crash again and crash again,ā Redman said. āIn my day someone who crashed that much was either dead or retired. There wasnāt a third option.ā
Redman continued: āI sat and thought about every rider Iād ever seen. MĆ”rquez had it all. At the same time as the bike was trying to kill him, thatās when I understood: yes, he crashes more than anyone in history but thatās the point.
Q&A
What challenges did Marc Marquez face early in his career?
Marc Marquez suffered a crash in 2011 that caused double vision, sidelining him for five months.
How many races has Marc Marquez missed due to injury?
Marc Marquez has missed 30 races between 2020 and 2023 primarily due to a serious arm injury.
What is Jim Redman's opinion on Marc Marquez's talent?
Jim Redman initially questioned Marquez's ability to handle MotoGP's risks but later acknowledged his exceptional talent.
How has Marc Marquez changed MotoGP?
Marc Marquez's remarkable performances and resilience have significantly influenced the sport, making him a key figure in MotoGP history.
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āHe rides way beyond the limit and crashing is part of it. Itās what makes him so special.ā
Why Jim Redman puts Marc Marquez above the rest
Now 94, Redman has seen nearly every rider who could lay claim to being the sportās greatest, and he believes that title goes to Marquez.
According to Redman, the seven-time MotoGP champion changed how riders approach risk in the sport.
An eighth world championship this year would draw Marquez level with Giacomo Agostini and move him ahead of Valentino Rossi. However, after three rounds of the current season, he trails Marco Bezzecchi by 36 points.
āI spent my whole career thinking that greatness was about being on the edge, controlling the risk, surviving, but Marquez made me rethink everything. He didnāt stay on the edge, he didnāt survive it, he owned it.
āThe other four riders are legends, each one changed this sport. But if you ask me at 94 years old who is the greatest Iāve ever seen, thereās only one answer: the guy who made the impossible routine.ā