The Rise of the Ant: Retracing Marc Marquez's Era of Early Domination

Before the recent comeback stories, there was "Chapter 1" of the Marc Marquez saga: a period of relentless dominance that redefined MotoGP. Looking back from where we stand today, it is awe-inspiring to recount how quickly the #93 went from a promising rookie to the undisputed ruler of the premier class.

When Marquez stepped into the Repsol Honda garage in 2013 to replace Casey Stoner, he faced immense expectations. He didn't just meet them; he shattered them. By the end of his very first race in Qatar, he was already a MotoGP podium finisher. By the second round in Austin, he became the youngest-ever race winner. He capped off that stunning debut season by being crowned MotoGP World Champion as a rookie, capitalizing as rivals like Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo suffered injuries. Marquez hadn't just arrived; he had changed the game, introducing a new "elbow down" riding style that became the new standard.

The following year, 2014, was a masterclass in superiority. Marquez began the season with an unbelievable 10 consecutive victories, building an almost unassailable championship lead before the paddock even reached the flyaway races.

However, this era wasn't without its intense rivalries. Early battles with Jorge Lorenzo signaled fierce competition, but the defining conflict was undoubtedly with Valentino Rossi. What started with mutual respect—symbolized by Rossi tipping his hat to Marquez after that first Qatar podium—eventually curdled into sports' biggest rivalry. Tensions simmered through on-track clashes in Argentina and Assen in 2015, finally boiling over at the infamous Malaysian GP. Following a heated press conference where Rossi criticized Marquez's riding, the two collided on Sunday in Sepang, a moment that left a lasting imprint on the sport. That 2015 season ended with Lorenzo taking the title, marking the first time Marquez was truly defeated in MotoGP.

Marquez responded in 2016 by reclaiming his crown at Motegi, capitalizing on errors from the Yamaha riders. The subsequent years saw him fend off challenges, including legendary duels with Andrea Dovizioso in 2017 and 2018, before returning to absolute peak form in 2019 against emerging talent like Fabio Quartararo.

By the start of the delayed 2020 season, Marquez was the undisputed king, having won the championship in every premier class season he contested bar one. At the season opener in Jerez, after an early mistake, he produced one of the greatest comeback rides ever seen, momentarily touching a level of performance most athletes only dream of. But in a single crash later in that race, it all went wrong. That moment brought an abrupt end to this first glorious chapter, setting the stage for the arduous comeback story that followed.