At the Mobility Resort Motegi this Saturday, Marc Marquez took a big stride toward what could be his seventh MotoGP world title. After a turbulent final practice session and a dramatic qualifying run, he secured a spot on the front row, setting himself up for a decisive race on Sunday. It hasn’t been easy—but that’s exactly what the Spaniard expected.

In final practice, Marquez suffered a crash that shook not only his bike but his confidence. The GP25 slid off in FP3, leaving him frustrated with how long it took marshals to recover the machine from the gravel. Despite that, Marquez managed to regroup. He returned to the pits, worked through the final practice knowing that the crash had affected his rhythm, but evidently not enough to ruin his weekend.

Qualifying afternoon brought brighter moments. Francesco Bagnaia laid down a record‐breaking lap of 1:42.911 to snatch pole position, with Joan Mir close behind. Marquez delivered a strong performance to claim third, completing the front row. That position matters more than usual this weekend, because his main rival in the championship standings, his brother Álex Marquez, could only manage eighth in qualifying.

Marquez was forthright about how difficult the day had been. “Nobody said that it would be easy!” he remarked, acknowledging the FP3 crash and its impact. But he also made it clear that in qualifying, especially on his last flying lap, things felt much more under control. With each outing on track he said the confidence returned.

The stakes are enormous. Marc Marquez currently leads the championship battle by such a margin that if he out-scores Álex by just a few points this weekend, he can clinch the title on Sunday in Motegi. But it won’t be a walk in the park: rivals like Bagnaia and Mir have shown pace, and Marquez’s front row start represents advantage rather than guarantee.

Beyond the numbers and standings, what stands out is Marquez’s resilience. A crash that might have rattled most riders didn’t knock him out. He came back, found the rhythm, and delivered when it counted. For a man chasing another title – in a season already full of expectations – that mental strength may matter just as much as physical speed.

As Sunday’s race looms, the question isn’t simply whether Marquez can ride well; it’s whether he can stay safe, sharp and unflappable under pressure. Bagnaia starting from pole and Mir close by ensure that the front row will be fiercely contested from lights out. Marquez’s charge begins before even turning a lap: overcoming doubt, managing his bike, and keeping ahead of his brother.

In Motegi, every corner counts. Every mistake can be magnified. If Marquez wants that title, he knows he must perform perfectly. And though “easy” was never in the job description, qualifying on the front row is a strong signal that, while the path is steep, he’s very much still in the climb.