MotoGP Portugal Day 3, Alex Marquez (Ducati/2) makes a serious admission: "That's it, the Aprilias can fight for a championship"

Unlike yesterday, Alex Marquez was powerless against Marco Bezzecchi in PortugalThe difference in performance between the two days surprised everyone, including Marc's brother, who was stunned by the Aprilia RS-GP's blistering speed. With one lap to go, he was more than four seconds behind, a rare and significant deficit for a rider of Alex Marquez's caliber. The Gresini rider, however, remains optimistic, knowing the quality of the Noale-based bikes.

It's like a warning. At the end of the year, Ducati is no longer as dominant, and the other manufacturers have closed the gap. Now, the satellite riders, and especially Alex Marquez, are the ones who will bring home big points. « We weren't fast enough to overtake himMarco rode a very fast race, and right from the start, I had to attack hard. I absolutely had to avoid losing him, so I decided to take the initiative. In the end, I suffered a lot with the front end and we still encounter a small problem in fast corners, like in AustraliaI could perhaps have tried to slow him down or destabilize him a bit, like Pedro did yesterday, but he was faster. When an opponent is superior, you can take advantage of it and be patient. But there was nothing to be done today. » we read on Motosan.

 

 

Alex Marquez, Ducati rider, clearly states: Aprilia will be able to fight for the crown in 2026: « I think they were already capable of that this year.From the start, they were very competitive, even with two new riders like Marco and Jorge. Marco was fast and consistent, and Jorge, after his injury, is well on the road to recovery. In terms of race pace, they have always been very close to us." he added.

 

 

But whose recommendations will Ducati listen to during the Valencia tests: his or Pecco Bagnaia's? « This question makes me uncomfortable. It sounds like a question the competition would ask. But what's great about Ducati is that they analyze all the data very well. It's not about who they listen to the most, but about everyone working in the same direction. You can see that all the manufacturers are very close. Today, Ducati, Aprilia, and KTM were on the podium, which demonstrates the level of competition. First, I want to end the year on a high note and give our fans a great performance. » he replied very professionally.

What did you think of Alex Marquez's performance in Portimao? Tell us in the comments!

Result of the 2025 MotoGP Portuguese Grand Prix:

 

 

Classification credit: MotoGP.com

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport