Marco Bezzecchi
The 2025 MotoGP season has had just two races and Marc Marquez already looks unstoppable. Surprisingly, his main competition has been his brother.
Alex Marquez has finished second in every race thus far behind older brother and former teammate Marc. The 28-year-old is 16 points behind the Ducati rider and 15 ahead of Francesco Bagnaia in third heading into Austin.
Riding on the GP24, Alex Marquez has found another level. The bike won 16 out of 20 races in 2024 and still proves to be competitive in 2025.
The Gresini rider briefly led both Grand Prix in Thailand and Argentina before losing to Marc Marquez. The six-time MotoGP champion lost his lead in Buriram due to a tyre pressure issue.
The Argentina Grand Prix saw the Ducati rider’s biggest challenge, as a rare mistake saw Alex claim the lead. It took Marc until the closing stages to regain control as his brother pushed him out in front.
Alex Marquez has removed the ‘shadow’ of Marc after his exit from Gresini and is flourishing as the lead rider. Heading into the next race in the US, the Spaniard may have found a ‘secret weapon’.
Marc Marquez got the ‘hump’ that Alex Marquez was quicker on the left-hander in Argentina – it could be bad news in Austin
Marc Marquez will be fully expected to win the Grand Prix of the Americas, given the track is suited to his riding style. However, his brother could have an advantage given he was quicker through the left-hander at turn six in Termas.
The Ducati rider got the ‘hump’ over this, according to journalist Lewis Duncan. With the Circuit of the Americas having 11 left turns compared to Termas’ five, Alex Marquez may have found an edge on his GP24.
“Look even at those years where Marc’s not been at 100%, he’s been the favourite to win those races at COTA.” said Duncan via the Crash MotoGP podcast.
“Now that he is at 100%, the bike’s the best bike he’s probably ever had. It’s the circuit that’s meant for him.
“But, let’s not look beyond Alex Marquez because there was one very crucial thing that Marc Marquez spoke about in Argentina, was that at turn six, the left-hander, Alex Marquez was faster than him.
“And Mark actually kind of got the hump a little bit about that because he couldn’t figure out just how. He said: ‘It’s not possible he’s quicker through these left-hand corners than I am’.
“So, maybe there’s something there that, maybe a little secret weapon that Alex has figured out in those corners on that bike that maybe he can try and exploit this weekend.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Marquez from net worth to career stats
Could Alex Marquez win the Grand Prix of the Americas?
Ramon Forcada says Alex Marquez has been a ‘real surprise’ so far in 2025. Not many would have expected the Gresini rider to be challenging for race wins given the factory Ducati team’s dominance.
The reality is the Spaniard has been closer to Marc Marquez than his teammate Bagnaia. This seems to have surprised even the six-time champion.
Marc Marquez questioned whether battling Alex in Argentina was AI as he could not comprehend his brother fighting for victory. The 28-year-old is yet to win a race in MotoGP – and he could be in a prime position to do so in Austin.
COTA’s majority of left-hand corners leave Alex Marquez at an advantage given he was faster than his brother through those turns in Argentina. Round three of the 2025 season could present Marc Marquez’s toughest challenge yet.
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