The paddock had sensed it. All that was missing was the confirmation. Alex Marquez is likely in his last season with Gresini, and barring a dramatic turnaround, he will join the official KTM team in 2027. But behind this strategic move lies a more emotional, almost personal dimension: the 2025 runner-up reportedly felt "neglected, unloved, and undervalued" by Ducati's management in Borgo Panigale. And in a world where recognition counts as much as pure speed, that carries significant weight.
Season 2025 ofAlex Marquez It was anything but anecdotal. Three Grand Prix victories, three sprint wins, 26 podium finishes in 44 starts, and above all, second place in the championship behind his brother. MarcClinical consistency. A new maturity. The paddock has seen him change dimension.
However, despite these results, Ducati He never really considered it for a factory ride. Even when the question arose, even when the internal hierarchy was in flux, his name never seemed to be a priority. According to El PeriodicoThis lack of recognition has left deep scars.
Ducati He was indeed given an official GP26 this season, but this seems more like a technical concession than a political promotion. Meanwhile, Peter Acosta He is welcomed in red like the new generational star. The implicit message is brutal: high-performing, yes. A priority, no.
KTM, the bet of respect for Alex Marquez
At KTMThe situation is different. After the arrival ofAcosta at Ducati, Pit Beirer will seek a strong name to structure the factory 2027 project. Maverick Vinales seems destined for an internal promotion, but KTM wanted a credible figure immediately capable of competing for the title.
Alex ticks all the boxes. And above all, KTM offers him what Ducati never really gave it a central place in the project.
In the paddock, many consider him to be one of only two drivers capable of competing with Marc this season, alongside Marco BezzecchiThis status, KTM seems ready to acknowledge it publicly.
Thursday in Thailand, Alex He didn't make anything official. But his words spoke volumes. If there's ever a time to take a risk, it's now.." Then he adds, with almost cold lucidity: " I am 30 years old If I don't do it now, I won't do it."This sentence sums it all up."
There is a genuine attachment to Gresini, the team that revived him after his difficult years at HondaHe never hid it. But a MotoGP rider's career isn't built solely on emotion. It's built on windows of opportunity.
And at 30, Alex He knows he is entering his full sporting maturity. Waiting another two or three seasons in a secondary role could have blocked his potential.
This potential departure is also a subtle warning to Ducati. Extend Fermin Aldeguer until 2028, focus on Acostasecure Marc Marquez… all of this outlines a hierarchy where Alex was never really at the center.
He didn't slam the door. He simply accepted that it wouldn't open. KTMFor its part, it offers him a project, an ambition, and above all, symbolic recognition. In an ultra-political paddock, this is sometimes worth more than a factory contract with the championship leader.
The paradox is obvious: leaving Ducati, current reference of MotoGPFor a manufacturer still seeking technical stability, this is a gamble.
But that is precisely what the younger of the Marquez claims: We need to weigh everything up and see what prevails. »
What prevails today, it seems, is not security. It is the opportunity to be the cornerstone of a project.
And if 2025 proved anything, it's thatAlex Marquez He's no longer simply "the brother of." He's become a credible contender for the title. By choosing KTM, he may not just be looking for a motorcycle. He's looking for status.
