Marc Marquez's shadow mechanic: "Return to Honda? Nothing is impossible"

Javi Ortiz has been Marc Marquez’s shadow in the pit box since the Moto2 days. Together they won the title in the middle class, six MotoGP titles with Honda, and shared the Gresini Racing garage. And in 2025 they clinched another world championship with the Ducati brand. The Spanish mechanic is the most envied and decorated in the paddock...

When the Cervera superstar decided to leave HRC at the end of 2023, he couldn’t bring his staff with him to Ducati. No one, except Javi Ortiz, who had the privilege of following the champion, first at Gresini and then at Ducati. "The colleagues were eager to come, it’s true, but we had to go our separate ways. Life, sometimes, takes these turns," the Spanish mechanic told 'Marca'.

It’s hard to move engineers from one manufacturer to another or high-profile technicians. Especially when, at Ducati, the team is tight-knit and already complete. Ortiz mainly handles tires and fairings, a secondary role that made it easier to switch from one box to another. Over the years, a great relationship of trust has formed. "For me he’s no longer just a friend, it’s no longer just work. Yes, that too, but in the end it’s family. He’s someone you look at and you don’t need to speak."

Javi also went through the dark period of Marc Marquez, never losing faith in him. After the Jerez crash in 2020, there was a chance the rider might say goodbye to MotoGP. Instead, he didn’t—he came back a world champion against all odds. And when asked if there’s a chance of returning to Honda, the mechanic replies: "Nothing is impossible in this life. It’s hard, very hard, but you never know." We will see..

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