Marco Bezzecchi
At his 93rd attempt, Alex Marquez finally became a MotoGP winner on home soil at the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Gresini rider has been the surprise package of the 2025 season. Riding the Desmosedici GP24, which won 16 out of 20 races last year, Marquez is flourishing.
The Spaniard has displayed incredible consistency in 2025. From the opening 10 races of the season, he has only been off the podium once after a collision-ravaged race in Qatar left him sixth.
Marquez took the lead of the championship after brother Marc crashed out of the Grand Prix of the Americas. The six-time MotoGP champion regained the lead with victory in Qatar, while Alex still searched for his maiden win in the premier class.
At the Spanish Grand Prix, the 29-year-old started from the second row and worked his way past the factory Ducatis and polesitter Fabio Quartararo for victory. Marc Marquez suffered his second crash of 2025 in the early stages of the race, but recovered to score points in 12th.
Carlo Pernat says Alex Marquez is mentally stronger than Marc Marquez after first MotoGP win
The result puts Alex Marquez back on top of the riders’ championship by just one point over his brother. Marc Marquez has been dominant in 2025 with eight wins already, but mistakes in Austin and Jerez have proved costly.
Marquez Jr has proved this season that he can challenge his brother at the front. After his first premier class win, Carlo Pernat believes the Gresini rider is mentally stronger than Marc Marquez.
“He has proven to be very tough, very tough and strong-minded,” he said via GPOne.
“I almost say something that might be a sporting heresy, in quotes. I believe that mentally he is stronger, Alex than his brother Marc.
“Marc certainly has on his side that he is a phenomenon, a natural talent, which there are few, perhaps Quartararo, at his level.
“But mentally Alex is really strong and it’s very difficult to have a brother like this who has won eight world championships and to compete with him despite the bonds they have.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Marquez from net worth to career stats
Can Alex Marquez hold on to the lead of the championship?
With 17 Grand Prix weekends still to go, nothing is set in stone in 2025. Marc Marquez is the clear favourite to win the title after displaying incredible pace and dominance in the opening rounds.
But his brother has been there every race and proved he can challenge the GP25s. Alex Marquez sees similarities between himself and Jorge Martin, with his internal speed being key to winning races.
Despite his consistency, Marquez doesn’t think he’s ready to challenge for the title. The Spaniard says Gresini are ‘lacking’ in 2025 compared to the factory Ducati outfit.
What’s more is that brother Marc and Francesco Bagnaia will have the benefit of updates to the GP25. However, Alex Marquez could receive ‘gifts’ from Ducati if his form continues – despite being on year-old machinery, he is proving he can be quicker than the factory spec.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
