An argument could be made that none are bigger than Marquez’ soon-to-be move to Ducati after spending 11 years with the Japanese manufacturer.

A six-time MotoGP with Honda, Marquez’s career with the Repsol team at one stage looked like a relationship that could not be broken.

But that’s exactly what has happened due to Honda’s performance over the last few seasons, falling from top dogs to arguably the worst bike on the grid.

But what other moves shocked MotoGP?

Valentino Rossi leaves Honda to join Yamaha

A three-time champion in his first three seasons with Repsol Honda, Rossi took a huge gamble by leaving for Yamaha, who at the time had not won a premier class title in 12 years.

It was a huge gamble from the Italian, but one that paid off as he continued his stunning success.

Many thought Rossi made a mistake by leaving Honda, but as he showed in 2004 and 2005, the ‘Doctor’ took Yamaha back to glory before winning another two championships in 2008/09. 

Casey Stoner swaps Ducati for immediate success with Honda

Like Rossi, Stoner made a big call to leave Ducati for Honda in 2011, however, it was a decision that brought immediate success as he won the title that season.

Stoner became Ducati’s first-ever MotoGP champion in 2007 before finishing runner-up to Rossi in 2008. 

But after two fourth place finishes, Stoner left the Italian brand to join Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda.

Stoner’s title win was Honda’s first since Nicky Hayden got the better of Rossi during the 2006 season. 

Rossi’s switch to Ducati backfires

After sustained success with Yamaha, Rossi joined Ducati after they lost Stoner to Honda, but the nine-time world champion was unable to replicate the Australian’s results.

Hoping his bold move would pay off the way it did when he left Honda for Yamaha, Rossi instead failed to win a single race in two years. 

The only manufacturer he didn’t win with in MotoGP, Rossi’s time at Ducati was one to forget while Yamaha continued to enjoy success following his departure. 

Jorge Lorenzo leaves Ducati and struggles

After making a big move from Yamaha to Ducati in 2017, Lorenzo was again on the move in 2019 as he joined Honda alongside Marquez.

But while it was a big signing for Honda, Lorenzo began finding his best form with Ducati just weeks before his switch to Honda was confirmed.

Lorenzo was beginning to out-perform Andrea Dovizioso but it wasn’t enough to remain with Ducati, as he instead joined Honda before retiring a year later.

Like many of Marquez’s teammates, Lorenzo struggled aboard the RC213V as he failed to record a single top ten result, while Marquez won or was on the podium in all-but one race.

Maverick Vinales exits Yamaha before shock move to Aprilia 

The man who replaced Lorenzo at Yamaha in 2017, Vinales appeared to be in a dream situation as he was teammate to Rossi before the expected role of team leader was supposed to come his way. 

But that never happened as he struggled to get to grips with Fabio Quartararo in 2021, before a shocking mid-season departure took place. 

Angry at Yamaha for not listening to him, Vinales was sacked after the Styrian Grand Prix when he was caught over-revving the engine in a bid to damage his machine.

But Vinales was soon back on the grid as he completed a surprise move to Aprilia just three rounds later.

Bradl’s career as a WorldSBK rider was short and difficult as he struggled aboard a Honda machine that was woefully uncompetitive during the 2017 campaign. 

Starting off the season as team-mate to the late Nicky Hayden, a former MotoGP champion in 2006, Bradl finished the season 14th in the world championship before going on to sign a deal with Repsol Honda in 2019 to become its official MotoGP test rider.

Whilst in his role as Repsol Honda test rider Bradl has also continued to ride Superbikes during private tests, which meant sharing the track with current WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista in 2020 and 2021, before the Spaniard returned to Ducati.

And after watching the success Bautista enjoyed in 2022, Bradl was asked whether a return to Superbike racing was appealing. 

“I sometimes talked to Alvaro about it, because we sometimes shared the track with the superbikes in private tests when he was still with Honda in the SBK 2020 and 2021,” said Bradl. “During this time he was not so happy. But the return to Ducati has done him good. What he did in 2022 is remarkable.”

“The Superbikes, that’s not my category, especially after everything I experienced in my Superbike season with Honda in 2017,” added the German. 

“Sure, if I tried the Ducati I might change my mind. But currently I see myself as a Honda test rider in MotoGP. But if Honda came up with a new, powerful superbike, I would definitely take a look at it.”

Team HRC made big improvements during the 2022 campaign with rookies Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, although Bradl’s experience with Honda would make him a very capable rider should a change or a different Honda ride be available.

However, Bradl feels Honda is in a good position with its current WorldSBK riders, although he remains on alert should an opportunity arise. 

“I’ve been with HRC for almost ten years now. So I know how things work at this company,” stated Bradl. “If something happens, I’m close to the action. I am also ready for other tasks. 

“In 2022, participation in the Suzuka 8h race did not work out due to the clash of dates. But the request was always there. 

“Also, Honda are well catered for with the Superbike riders. But you never know…”

This weekend will mark the first time MotoGP has seen a title decider since 2017 when Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso were in contention.

But how does Bagnaia vs Quartararo compare to three other title deciders we’ve chosen as the best in recent memory.

While the points deficit is larger than the three other contenders, Quartararo can still win the 2022 title should he win and Bagnaia finish lower than 14th. 

A decider that looked anything but possible between the two as Quartararo had an advantage over Bagnaia of 91 points heading into Assen, the Ducati rider’s four wins and stunning consistency since, couple with unforced errors in Assen and Phillip Island from Quartararo has resulted in one of the biggest championship swings MotoGP has ever seen.

Quartararo has also not been helped by incidents out of his control such as Aragon when he ran into the back of Marquez when the Honda rider had a near highside on lap one, while the incorrect tyre pressure was applied to his front tyre in Buriram. 

Very nearly wrapped up in Malaysia, Bagnaia was instead made to wait as Quartararo managed to finish third, a position he had to achieve as Bagnaia won the Grand Prix. 

Hayden vs Rossi – The American comes out on top to win his maiden MotoGP title

Hoping to avoid what happened to his mentor Valentino Rossi, Bagnaia will be keen to finish the race in order to control his own destiny. 

In 2006 Rossi headed into the Valencian MotoGP with an eight point lead over Nicky Hayden, with the American considered a heavy underdog.

However, Rossi crashed at turn two which gave Hayden the opportunity to take the title, which he did by claiming third position.

With all the momentum on his side following five consecutive podiums going into Valencia, Rossi instead made his biggest mistake of the season when it mattered most. 

Rossi vs Lorenzo comes down to the wire after controversial lead up

Again involved in a last race decider, which again saw him come out on the losing side, Rossi saw the 2015 title slip away after drama in the penultimate round led to him receiving a back of the grid start.

In what is arguably the most controversial moment in MotoGP, fierce rivals Rossi and Marquez were embroiled in a heated battle at Sepang that eventually led to Rossi knocking the Spaniard off his machine.

Handing the advantage back to team-mate Jorge Lorenzo who went on to finish second in that race, Rossi needed to come through the field and claim a podium if he was to have a chance of avoiding another defeat.

But with Lorenzo, who went on to win the Valencian Grand Prix, Marquez and Dani Pedrosa too far in front by the time Rossi came through to fourth, the chance to win a tenth world title was lost. 

Marquez vs Dovizioso – Marquez saves championship with miraculous ‘save’

Although Dovizioso crashed out of the race later on, the 2017 season-finale nearly saw a huge change take place when Marquez produced a miraculous ‘save’ at turn one.

The Honda man lost the front-end of his machine during the early stages of the Grand Prix before encountering a slide that seemingly went on forever.

Finally able to recover and claim a podium, Marquez held on to win his second world title in succession – his fourth in MotoGP before going on to win again in 2018 and 19. 

Fabio Quartararo, who had been atop the MotoGP standings for most of the season, lost the lead to Francesco Bagnaia in Phillip Island after crashing out of the race. 

The deficit he was facing then grew to 23 points after Bagnaia won last time out in Sepang, which now requires Quartararo to win in Valencia on Sunday whilst needing Bagnaia to be lower than 14th. 

In 2006 the margin between Rossi and Hayden was only eight points before the former crashed – Hayden then finished third which was enough to secure the title – but there’s still a chance that drama could unfold on Sunday and thus lead to another stunning finish. 

Let’s not forget that Marc Marquez nearly crashed out of the season-finale race at Valencia in 2017 which could have opened the door for Andrea Dovizioso to win the world title, although the Ducati rider at the time went on to crash out of the Grand Prix anyway. 

So while overturning 23 points to win the championship in the final race would be the most ever, Jarvis is holding onto previous experience for hope.

“We’re still in the fight,” said Jarvis. “We should be happy about that. You never know, but we have to win the race, which is not easy, and our rivals will have to have a sort of setback, which is not the ideal way to win either… but in this sport anything can happen. 

“When we went to Valencia in 2006 Valentino was going to almost simply complete a formality by winning the race but the unthinkable happened, Valentino crashed and Nicky took the title. 

“I know that Valencia is a very difficult track, so anything can happen.”

In 2006 after five consecutive championships, Rossi found himself 51 points behind Nicky Hayden but brilliantly recovered to lead the MotoGP standings heading into the season finale – but he crashed and handed the title to his rival.

Bagnaia has set an all-time record by overcoming Fabio Quartararo’s 91-point lead and, heading into the Malaysian MotoGP, he is 14 points ahead.

Brivio, the former Yamaha manager who worked alongside Rossi, said to La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I don’t know how many times in history there has been a recovery like this. 

“I remember Valentino on Nicky Hayden in 2006, but they were [51] points after Laguna Seca, not so many. 

“He was good, regardless of how it ended.” 

Asked if Bagnaia’s skill or the performance of the Desmosedici GP22 was the key, Brivio said: “The question is difficult. I think the bike has great merit, but he is the best rider on the Ducati, he knows how to exploit it well.” 

Rossi was unable to capitalise on the 2006 title after his heroic comeback. Bagnaia has two races to seal his maiden title.

“We have come this far and now let’s play it, we cannot miss this opportunity,” Brivio said to Bagnaia.

Suzuki, who Brivio previously worked for, will exit MotoGP at the end of this season.

Current Suzuki duo Joan Mir and Alex Rins will feature in the 2023 MotoGP rider line-up with Honda, a team that has massively suffered in 2022.

“I think they will struggle,” Brivio said. 

“I hope for the show that Honda will be able to solve the problems, but I don’t think it’s that easy. 

“For Alex and Joan it will be tough, even more so coming from a Suzuki that rides in a certain way.”

Marc Marquez has been the only shining light for Honda in 2022, despite missing six races due to another surgery.

“With all the respect they have, I don’t think they feel inferior to Marquez,” Brivio said about Rins and Mir.

Bradl’s comments were made during the second episode of ‘Behind the Dream’, a short documentary series created by HRC.

After competing for the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team for just one season, Bradl switched from full-time racing to become the new Honda MotoGP test rider.

While results were hugely disappointing for Bradl and the satelitte Honda WorldSBK project that was overhauled into a full factory outfit for 2019, Bradl also had to cope with the loss of team-mate Nicky Hayden, who tragically lost his life in May 2017, following a bicycle accident. 

 

“I went to WorldSBK and this was one of my biggest mistakes I’ve made in life.” said Bradl. “I suffered that year like crazy. 

“In May [2017], Nicky Hayden passed away with his bicycle accident and I was there in the team alone. 

“I didn’t know what to do with my life, for the future. And then, at that time I got a call from Takeo Yokoyama that said to me, ‘are you interested in being a test rider for Honda in MotoGP?’ I said ‘yes, I am very interested’.

Bradl jealous when Marc Marquez arrived to MotoGP

While their relationship might be a strong one now, Bradl and Marquez used to be on-track rivals during the 2013 and 14 seasons when both riders rode for Honda.

Bradl, who was competing for the satellite LCR Honda team at the time, has admitted to being jealous of the now eight-time world champion when the Spaniard joined the premier class.

Bradl said: “Ten years ago I would not come to this [Marquez’s] room, I would say ‘wrong address’. I was jealous when Marc came to MotoGP.”

“[He] was way faster.” An open and honest Bradl continued, “I had no answer, how can I be faster than this guy?”

Bradl, who has been in stand-in duty since the Italian MotoGP at Mugello for Marquez, could be set for a return to his testing role after Marquez made his on-track return earlier this week at the two-day Misano test. 

Despite missing the last six races, Marquez remains the highest placed Honda rider in the championship with 60 points, 14 more than Takaaki Nakagami.