Let's Talk MotoGP: No One Deserved to Win More Than Alex Marquez

In Jerez, Alex Marquez won his first MotoGP Grand Prix, five years after his first appearance in the premier class. I bow and pay tribute to him, because even I am not his biggest fan – for reasons, in my opinion, legitimate –, we must recognize that on this grid, this weekend, no one deserved to win more than him.

 

A model of resilience

 

From Friday onwards, Alex was in the running, as he has been in every race this season. He finished second once again in the Sprint, unable to beat his brother, but took his revenge on Sunday with this tremendous victory. What racing IQ, what mastery of his subject. The Gresini rider attacked Fabio Quartararo at the right time – in a somewhat dry way, certainly, we can't change our ways –, and took off in the lead. In fact, Alex has experience with these kinds of situations because this is how he has been racing since the beginning of the year. Just, usually there's another Marquez in front of him..

 

 

With Bagnaia unable to overtake Fabio Quartararo, he only had to manage his lead over the Frenchman, who was more than happy to be in second place. Frankly, there's nothing to criticize about his performance from start to finish. He managed to avoid trouble early in the race, as from fourth place on the grid and knowing his style, it could have cost him dearly.

Even though the disappointment of constantly finishing second was probably mitigated by the fact that his brother was winning, I think that at this level, a certain weariness sets in when victory does not come. In a season, with a Bagnaia who is coming back well, a Quartararo who is on the rise, and other outsiders who can explode at any moment, someone who is fighting to win on a bike from the previous year must be aware that this may be a unique opportunity. But Alex Marquez, eight times in nine races, was in the mix, and it still didn't comeI would like to congratulate this mental strength, also praised by his team manager Michele Masini, which allows him to get back into shape each time.

This is all the more striking given that Alex Marquez had already shown psychological difficulties when he was riding for LCR Honda at the end of 2022. I remember that he had given up, was no longer motivated. This thirst for victory never left him despite several years disappointing – I will not back down from using this term to characterize his 2023 and 2024 campaigns –, while he was used to champagne in Moto3 as in Moto2.

I have rarely been impressed by his exploits in MotoGP, because I found them well below what he offered in the small categories. This season, he honors his immense record, he is " living up to its legend " Bravo to him.

 

 

 

Can Alex Marquez dream of the MotoGP title?

 

I will answer this question right away: yes.. Alex Marquez shows that his meteoric progress this winter can take him very high, and he knows it. He himself never stops repeating that dreams are free. The only element that could really distance him from that would be a meteoric rise of the official team, and more specifically Pecco Bagnaia. Indeed, I think his brother Marc is not far from his final form, while the Italian still has room for improvement. If, at the Jerez tests, the Borgo Panigale firm responds to Bagnaia's requests, it could complicate things for Alex Marquez, stuck with the same equipment until November.

 

 

But other than that, I don't see any direct threat that could stop his momentum. First, he's on an excellent team, one that won't stop pushing and has shown it can maintain such a high level of demand over a whole year, which isn't the case for all of them. Second, There is a good chance that this victory will galvanize him, that it will further strengthen his confidence.. Third, Yamaha is getting a little closer, Honda too, but Aprilia and KTM are stagnating: I don't see the Ducati dynasty ending anytime soon. Fourth, the other Ducati riders who could hinder him are currently a notch below. Be careful though Fabio DiGiannantonio and Franco Morbidelli who can also find speed on certain circuits.

Fighting for the title is also a matter of mathematics. Indeed, the analysis of his statistics is very positive. While he hasn't achieved a single pole position so far—which, historically, greatly penalizes contenders— he has 140 points after five Grands Prix, or ten races. In 2024, Jorge Martin had 129 at the same stage; Bagnaia, 94 in 2023. Before that date, Sprints must be removed from the equation, which would give a total of 95 points to Alex Marquez in 2025. Pecco Bagnaia, champion in 2022, didn't even have any 60. Quartararo, who was leading, pointed at 69. To cut a long story short, you have to go back to Marc Marquez in 2019 to have an identical total after five Sunday events, and to Valentino Rossi in 2015 to find a better record (109 units). This is exceptional.

What did you think of Alex Marquez's Spanish Grand Prix? Do you think he can challenge for the world title? Tell me in the comments!

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport