Let's talk MotoGP: Alex Marquez rides like a world champion

Honestly, who could have predicted that Alex Marquez would perform so well in the first six MotoGP races of this season? What he's doing is truly impressive, as well as surprising, as he's never even come close to this level since joining the premier class at the start of 2020. Can he be compared to other recent outsiders? Analysis.

 

great art

 

What characterizes Alex Marquez the most, in my opinion, it's maturityThe current championship leader is 28 years old and is riding with his head in the air. He hasn't been the most spectacular since the start, but he's always on target. In Austin, I noticed this especially during qualifying. First, he was following his brother; a strategy that didn't pay off, as Marc Marquez was surprisingly slow on his first outing. Alex could have followed him again, or taken the wheel of the lonely Bagnaia, who always refuses to set his times behind someone. The Gresini driver, feeling confident, decided to stick to the initial plan, by launching his second salvo of solo fast laps.

 

 

And even so, he had a lot of speed, managing to get to the front row, ahead of Pecco Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli who seemed formidable. During both races he rode intelligently, without overdoing itYou might think he's got his fill of second places, but he never looked to cross swords with Bagnaia once he had passed him on Sunday.

It is this accuracy that allows him to lead the championship at the time of writing. Alex Marquez, from Thailand, accelerate when necessary, lead when necessary and slow down when necessary. I am very happy to see the evolution of a great double world champion, because the wisest among you may remember his countless blunders when he was leading races in Moto2. With a bike that suits him perfectly, he manages to unlock a lot of performance, but manages to control himself enough not to go overboard.

 

The Alex Marquez Problem

 

There is one thing that bothers me, though. Given how he's going, I don't see him slowing down anytime soon. The Desmosedici GP24 is expected to become less and less competitive, but it can remain very fast until the end of the year: that's what happened in 2023. The GP22 was still extremely competitive during the overseas tour, as evidenced by Marco Bezzecchi's victory in India. But then, what is he playing?

 

 

Is he playing for the world title? If so, then he'll have to take more risks to challenge Bagnaia and his own brother. His riding is currently worthy of a world champion, but he lacks genius. Before the start of the season, I saw the two official Ducati riders sharing all the victories during the year, which is the case so far. If he wants to position himself, he will in turn have to create moments of grace, no matter the risks. And I don't think he can gain much, honestly.

Is he just playing for a good position in the championship? Let's imagine that Alex Marquez decides to opt for consistency instead. That's more or less what he's doing right now: he hasn't had to overtake much and hasn't put himself in any major trouble against his brother or Bagnaia. But if he continues like this, I fear his season will be forgotten. Speed ​​pays off more than consistency, and in this respect, I imagine Fabio Di Giannantonio having a greater impact. If the final table looks something like "M. Marquez-Bagnaia-Di Giannantonio-A. Marquez," we'll say, in 2027, that he had a good season with all those second-place finishes. And by 2030, we will have forgotten about it.

This in-between situation bothers me quite a bit, because I would like him to push a little harder and give us a real season as a dangerous outsider. He himself, after Thailand, said that he wasn't aiming for the title, so, even if you can't win, you might as well go all out.

 

Who to imitate?

 

 

what is a outsider ? Originally, he was a racehorse that no one expected, but which was among the highest ranked. He is " the one who is outside » for the literal translation. In MotoGP, he is generally a satellite driver, who, over the course of a season, manages to win several times or regularly get on the podium. He's also someone who has never particularly shone before.To find them, look between fourth and sixth place in the overall standings and look for a name you haven't seen at that level before.

In my opinion, the best modern outsider was none other than Enea Bastianini in 2022, at Gresini. Nobody expected him, and he still won four times. I don't think Alex Marquez is that strong. I won't name them all, but personally, I'd like him to emulate them. Cal Crutchlow 2013, and that it becomes, by the fact, a bit more offensive. The speed is quite similar – compared to the competitors of the time, that is to say a notch below, but enough to grab one or two poles –, ready to stand out from the crowd at the slightest misstep of the favorites, but not often victorious either. And all this punctuated by an exemplary consistency which allows the driver to appear in the top 5 overall. I hope this is the path he will follow..

What did you think of Alex Marquez's first three races in 2025? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport