Giacomo Agostini says Marc Marquez should not be called the greatest of all time as he cannot compete with his rivals from different eras.
Marquez He can equal Agostini by winning an eighth premier class title this season, although he falls short of the Italian’s record total of 15 Grand Prix championships.
In the modern era, Márquez has often been compared to Valentino Rossi, who has won seven at the highest level. But in the interview MarkAgostini explains why success in 2026 is not enough to distinguish Marquez.
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Giacomo Agostini refuses to compare Marc Marquez to riders from ‘different eras’.
Jim Redman, world champion in the 1960s, said recently. Marquez is the greatest of all time. Because he redefined what it means to drive at the limit, and ‘made the impossible routine.
When those comments are made Augustinepushed back. Many of the riders in the conversation raced in completely different eras.
During Agostini’s era, top-class bikes had 500cc engines, but Marquez spent his entire MotoGP career on 1000cc machines. That is one of the many differences that complicate the discussion.
Agostini said: “I don’t agree. Mark, as of today, at this moment, I agree that he is the best. But in the past, I have met many riders, from Kenny Roberts to (Jarno) Saarinen, Jim Redman, Philly Ribbe or Mike Hailwood.
“They were all very fast; different eras. Hailwood was fast in his era, Agostini in his, Valentino Rossi in his, and Marc in his. It’s very difficult. To put them all in a race and have them fight it out is a dream. Unfortunately, it’s just a dream.
Giacomo Agostini’s Marc Marquez prediction proved to be wrong
Agostini said in an interview last year. Fabio Quatararo and Yamaha could dethrone Marquez. In 2027 when the new rules come into force.
But Quartararo lost faith in Yamaha and decided to join Honda instead. Marquez
Marquez told Agostini he was retiring. While he has started to regularly finish fifth and sixth and is off the pace in the early rounds of 2026, he is still expected to run for at least one more season.
Márquez could sign a one-plus-one deal. Instead of a two-year contract, giving Ducati the option to leave if their 850cc bike disappoints.
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