MotoGP Portugal Portimao J2: despite his Ducati, Alex Marquez remains behind his brother Marc who has a Honda

If MotoGP made its revolution this Saturday in a Portuguese Grand Prix which opened the 2023 season with the din of the Sprint, there was no coup d'état within the Marquez house. However, we expected to see the younger Alex take precedence over the older Marc. The first is in fact equipped with the motorcycle that everyone envies, a Ducati, while the second has kept the much reviled tool that is the Honda. But when reading the rankings from the second day in Portimao, we noticed that the eight-time winner was still ahead of the double Moto3 and Moto2 World Champion…

Thirteenth at the end of the qualifications, it is in this position thatAlex Marquez threw himself into the fray of Sprint that he finished ninth. He will start from the same place this Sunday for the Grand Prix, with his Ducati Gresini. Meanwhile, his brother Marc with the reluctant RC213V will start the same race from the leading pole position, the same one which was his launching pad for the Sprint which put him on the third step of the podium. In view of this assessment, there is no photo: Alex Marquez was again dominated by Marc Marquez...

Alex Marquez did not beat Zarco but deprived Quartararo of the last available point during the Sprint

A mid-race error on Saturday afternoon ruled the Spaniard out of a possible fight with the best, but Alex Marquez was able to defend his position against fabio quartararo to stay in a top 9 synonymous with points to collect. “ Everyone was a little nervous and it was complicated, especially starting from 13th position » says the Ducati Gresini rider.

« Too bad for this mistake mid-race at turn 5, otherwise I could have been in the leading group. Too bad we didn't overtake Zarco, we had the pace to do it, but the important thing was to start with confidence, I didn't want to make any mistakes. Now we know what to work on for Sunday and on paper we have a chance to do better » concludes the teammate of a Di Giannantonio who finished last in the Sprint and who will also start by closing the starting gate this Sunday afternoon.