Aleix Espargaro tells Francesco Bagnaia why it will be ‘very difficult’ to beat ‘stratospheric’ Marc Marquez to the MotoGP title

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Aleix Espargaro cannot see Francesco Bagnaia or Alex Marquez beating Marc Marquez to win the 2025 MotoGP title, with the Ducati star performing at a ‘stratospheric level’.

The 32-year-old has blown Espargaro away this year with how Marquez has immediately not just hit but smashed the ground running after joining the factory Ducati team. Marquez tops the riders’ standings after the first four rounds on 123 points, having already won five times.

Weirdly, the only time that Marquez has not won a race for the Bologna Bullets so far in the 2025 MotoGP season came in the only race he led throughout before falling. Marquez fell in the lead of the Grand Prix of the Americas, where Bagnaia inherited the lead and would win.

Francesco Bagnaia faces a ‘very difficult’ title race as Marc Marquez has ‘everything’ under control

Austin is the sole blot yet on Marquez’s copybook which boasts Sprint Race wins in Thailand, Argentina, America and Qatar along with Grand Prix wins in Buriram, Termas and Lusail. Pole position has even gone the Spaniard’s way at every round since he replaced Enea Bastianini.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marc Marquez from net worth to girlfriend

So, Honda test rider Espargaro will be stunned if anyone apart from Marquez wins the 2025 MotoGP riders’ championship. He feels it would be ‘very difficult’ for Bagnaia or Gresini star Alex Marquez to do an upset as Marc Marquez has ‘everything’ under control on his Ducati.

Espargaro told Marca: “I think it will be very difficult for his rivals to beat him because many factors have come together.

“The best rider in the world – surely in history – on the best bike. And above all you can see [with Marquez] not only a lot of speed but also a degree of maturity, clarity on the bike [and] having everything under control.

“Plan A, Plan B, Plan C – Marc is truly riding at a stratospheric level, and I think it will be very difficult to stop him.”

Francesco Bagnaia must cut out his mistakes and improve his Sprint results to win the title

Marquez could also have more aspects of the title race under control than Espargaro thinks. Bagnaia was close to losing his temper in Qatar when discussing if the Ducati rider is making mistakes due to the pressure the two-time title-winner faces fighting the six-time champion.

Sprint Races are also a huge issue which could cost Bagnaia in the MotoGP title race against Marquez this term. While his newest teammate has won every Sprint so far in 2025, Bagnaia struggles with the fuel tank Ducati use in the shorter races and has come P3, P3, P3 and P8.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Francesco Bagnaia from net worth to race number

Bagnaia already sits 26 points off Marquez after only four rounds and despite his teammate failing to score any in the Americas Grand Prix whilst the 28-year-old picked up the win. The Italian is also enjoying his career-best start to a MotoGP season yet is third in the standings.

Alex Marquez led the MotoGP standings for the first time in his career after the Americas GP having scored P2 in every race up to that point. The 28-year-old’s streak ended in the Grand Prix of Qatar with P6 but the Gresini rider still leads Bagnaia in the standings by nine points.