Photo via Crash.net

Why Marc Marquez wants his protege “to struggle” in Moto2

Marc Márquez has expressed a desire for his protégé, Maximo Quiles, to face early challenges in Moto2 next season, despite the Spaniard’s dominant 2026 Moto3 campaign. Quiles, an 18-year-old sensation, secured the title with five races remaining after winning 10 races, finishing the season with a commanding lead.

Trained alongside Márquez and his brother, Quiles has already drawn comparisons to past fast-tracked talents like Maverick Viñales, who skipped a full Moto2 season before joining MotoGP. Márquez acknowledged Quiles’ extraordinary talent but emphasized the importance of learning through adversity, hoping his protégé would ‘struggle a bit’ early on to stay grounded.

The young rider has signed a two-year deal with Aspar for Moto2, with expectations he could reach MotoGP as early as 2029, though a potential acceleration to 2028 remains a possibility given his rapid rise and the competitive landscape of factory seats.

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