With Marc Marquez taking a clean sweep so far this season, this weekend at Austin presents a similar story with the two Marquez brothers once again locking out the front two positions. Alex Marquez, although on the 2024 spec machinery, continues on his strong form over factory Ducati rider and two-time World Champion Fancessco Bagnaia.
Having made his fairytale debut with Repsol Honda in 2024 alongside his brother before being relegated to the LCR Honda outfit for 2021 to 2022, Alex’s raw pace was evident, but the Honda proved to be a tough package for anyone but Marc.
In his absence of the eight-time World Champion, the Japanese manufacturer did little to develop their machinery, to the detriment of Alex, who showed flashes of speed but often struggled with consistency.
But ever since his switch to Gresini, the Marquez pace we’ve come to expect from the brothers, and long absent from Marc ever since his injuries, has since become a formality.
As it stands, Alex is currently coined as the main title rival to his brother and factory Ducati rider Marc. After the Argentina weekend, Marc had only positive things to say about his younger brother’s pace.
“I was impressed by my brother’s riding style today. He was riding super smoothly, super well, always keeping the corner speed. I thought, ‘This guy is on another level today. ’”
Now in his third season on the Ducati, Alex seems to be gelling with the Italian bike better than ever, and the questions regarding his consistency from years past have all but been eradicated.
“I’ve never felt so strong in MotoGP, I’m enjoying the bike and everything I do. We need to keep going like that,” said Alex Marquez.
Inching closer and closer to his older brother with each race, the top step of the podium is within grasp for Alex. The younger Spaniard is happy with the pace of his machinery but outlines the need for increased aggression come Sunday if he hopes to edge his elder brother for the race win.
